Avian-inspired wing sweep

D. J. Inman; J. B. Perry; D. J. Willis

doi:10.1117/12.3010181

9 May 2024 Avian-inspired wing sweep

D. J. Inman, J. B. Perry, D. J. Willis

Proceedings Volume 12944, Bioinspiration, Biomimetics, and Bioreplication XIV; 1294406 (2024) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3010181
Event: SPIE Smart Structures + Nondestructive Evaluation, 2024, Long Beach, California, United States

Abstract

An understanding of avian flight stability suggests a new approach to morphing aircraft design. Specifically, studies of avian species reveal that they change their inertia tensor to manipulate their stability and control properties by various wing morphing motions. This motivates consideration of sweep changes in winged uninhabited air vehicles (UAV). Here we examine using distributed wing sweep via a system of shape memory alloy (SMA) cells to perform changes in stability and agility of a winged UAV. By using a cell configuration of SMA activated structures, much like a metamaterial, relatively large changes in sweep can be obtained. Here we focus on the dynamics and stability of such a configuration and track changes inertia and how that effects the roll rate using a simple decoupled roll rate expression. Asymmetric wing sweep can be used to effect advantageous roll maneuvers for highly agile flight. Essentially with one wing swept, the mass moment of inertial decreases causing a large roll velocity, desirable to initiate a fast turn.

Conference Presentation

(2024) Published by SPIE. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

Citation Download Citation

D. J. Inman, J. B. Perry, and D. J. Willis "Avian-inspired wing sweep", Proc. SPIE 12944, Bioinspiration, Biomimetics, and Bioreplication XIV, 1294406 (9 May 2024); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3010181

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