| EPSRC Reference: |
EP/C511190/1 |
| Title: |
Development and Aeroelastic Optimisation Of A Piezoelectric Powered Flapping Wing Micro Air Vehicle |
| Principal Investigator: |
Lawson, Professor NJ |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Sch of Engineering |
| Organisation: |
Cranfield University |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
27 January 2005 |
Ends: |
26 July 2008 |
Value (£): |
435,300
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
| Aerospace, Defence and Marine |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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Flapping wing Micro Air Vehicles (MAV's) offer potential advantages over equivalent fixed wing or rotary wing systems. These include the ability to vary wing beat kinematics and generate large peak lift coefficients and hence large control moments. This allows rapid transition between flight modes including hover. Such characteristics are beyond the capability of conventional fixed-wing or rotary-wing systems. A flapping wing propulsion system also has many unsteady flow and structural features in some cases with insect wing strokes of 160 degrees and wing rotations of more than 90 degrees. These complexities present major challenges to any mechanical based propulsion design seeking similar performance.Recent work has also shown many naturally occuring flapping wing systems, such as birds and insects, have flapping frequencies tuned for maximum propulsive efficiency. This design optimisation is combined with highly flexible or aeroelastic wings for a lightweight, high performance lifting system. The following proposal aims to exploit advances in piezoelectric (PZT) technology as the basis of a powerplant for an optimised aeroelastic flapping wing machine. The research will involve a three part programme of PZT development, aeroelastic modelling and wind tunnel measurement to produce a PZT powered flapping wing system.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.cranfield.ac.uk |