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The motivation for this project is to study the
flapping flight exhibited by various birds and insects, and to gather
knowledge in the area of natural aviation. Potential benefits include the
micro air vehicle industry, aerospace industry, and military intelligence.
This project will result in the construction of an electro-mechanical
simulator that replicates flapping motion found in most insects and the
hummingbird. The prototype should be capable of demonstrating wing tip
patterns, by inputting specific parameters for the motion that is
desired. The group decided to focus on the motion of hummingbirds and
insects, which both produce a figure eight with their wing tip.
To model the shoulder joint of a hummingbird, a pen
spring on the end of a hollow steel shaft was used. This gave infinite
degrees of freedom, the ability for twist, and resistance to bring it back
to its starting point. Three audio speakers were used as actuators to the
spring; one for each degree of motion required. Power to the speakers
comes from sine waves, produced in MATLAB, which phased accordingly,
replicates a figure eight motion for the wing tip. A replicated
hummingbird wing, made from balsa wood and plastic sheeting, was attached
to the end of the spring.
This mechanism is capable of producing a variety of
motions with varied amplitudes, but when operating at resonate frequency,
optimal amplitudes and repeatable motion were observed. Since the
simulator was required to be programmable, different motions can be
achieved by tuning the spring or altering the input waves. |
