Simulation of a Flapping Wing UAV using a Coupled CFD-Control Tool

Abstract

A tool is developed to couple high-fidelity CFD computations with a vehicle feedback controller. Using a flapping-wing geometry as a vehicle test case, wing stroke kinematics are extracted from experimental trials and simulated in a computational environment to determine wing force time histories. The pitch dynamics of the vehicle are studied and a closed-loop controller is implemented to effect changes in vehicle pitch attitude through biasing the wing stroke midpoint. Simulations show successful implementation of the coupled CFD-control tool, and an initial analysis of wing ROMs demonstrates the need for more careful modeling of wing forces to capture the relevant flow characteristics.

Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis in Biomimetics Applications: A Review from Aerospace Engineering Perspective

“…It can be found that the wing was excited at 14 Hz, with negative drag indicated as positive thrust with high Cl . Geder et al [ 48 ] used FEFLO software to perform CFD simulation on a flapping wing geometry inspired by a bird. The authors studied wing kinematics, aerodynamic forces, and pitch altitude control on the model of a flapping wing, in which both kinematics and flow environment affected the wing forces and captured the flow physics by using a reduced-order model.…”