Review on bio-inspired flight systems and bionic aerodynamics

Humans' initial desire for flight stems from the imitation of flying creatures in nature. The excellent flight performance of flying animals will inevitably become a source of inspiration for researchers. Bio-inspired flight systems have become one of the most exciting disruptive aviation technologies. This review is focused on the recent progresses in bio-inspired flight systems and bionic aerodynamics. First, the development path of Biomimetic Air Vehicles (BAVs) for bio-inspired flight systems and the latest mimetic progress are summarized. The advances of the flight principles of several natural creatures are then introduced, from the perspective of bionic aerodynamics. Finally, several new challenges of bionic aerodynamics are proposed for the autonomy and intelligent development trend of the bio-inspired smart aircraft. This review will provide an important insight in designing new biomimetic air vehicles.     

智能化航空飞行控制技术的发展

随着航空器飞行环境的日益复杂,对航空器的任务性能需求也不断提升。为了应对飞行安全压力增大、驾驶员操纵负荷增加等问题,从航空飞行控制所面临的问题着手,对人工智能、航空飞行控制的发展历程和后续发展趋势进行初步的探讨。首先,对国内外人工智能技术以及智能化航空飞行控制技术的发展进行简要介绍及分析;然后,结合技术发展趋势对未来智能化航空飞行控制技术的发展趋势进行初步分析;最后,提出了目前航空飞行控制技术智能化发展的初步思路,为后续该领域技术的发展提供参考。     

A review of bird-like flapping wing with high aspect ratio

Bird-like flapping-wing vehicles with a high aspect ratio have the potential to fulfill missions given to micro air vehicles, such as high-altitude reconnaissance, surveillance, rescue, and bird group guidance, due to their good loading and long endurance capacities. Biologists and aeronautical researchers have explored the mystery of avian flight and made efforts to reproduce flapping flight in bioinspired aircraft for decades. However, the cognitive depth from theory to practice is still very limited. The mechanism of generating sufficient lift and thrust during avian flight is still not fully understood. Moving wings with unique biological structures such as feathers make modeling, simulation, experimentation, and analysis much more difficult. This paper reviews the research progress on bird-like flapping wings from flight mechanisms to modeling. Commonly used numerical computing methods are briefly compared. The aeroelastic problems are also highlighted. The results of the investigation show that a leading-edge vortex can be found during avian flight. Its induction and maintenance may have a close relationship with wing configuration, kinematics and deformation. The present models of flapping wings are mainly two-dimensional airfoils or three-dimensional single root-jointed geometric plates, which still exhibit large differences from real bird wings. Aeroelasticity is encouraged to consider the nonignorable effect on aerodynamic performance due to large-scale nonlinear deformation. Introducing appropriate flexibility can improve the peak values and efficiencies of lift and thrust, but the detailed conclusions always have strong background dependence.     

Aerohydrodynamics of flapping-wing propulsors

It is the objective of this survey to review research and development results of flapping-wing propulsors and of vehicles equipped with them. Given the complex and multi-disciplinary character of the problem, a wide range of questions is considered in order to provide a general idea of the state-of-the-art. The main attention is directed at the aerohydrodynamics of flapping-wing propulsors. The major relevant mathematical models and the corresponding numerical results are presented together with the experimental data obtained up to the present time. Also, the physical and the design factors are discussed, which affect the aerohydrodynamic characteristics of flapping wings and that therefore have to be accounted for in the modern mathematical models. Experimental data and numerical modeling results are compared to determine domains of validity of the latter for the aerohydrodynamic design of full-scale air and marine vehicles. Also, existing engineering solutions for vehicles with flapping-wing propulsors are presented and prospective directions for future investigations are outlined.     

微型扑翼的推进特性实验研究

为了研究微型扑翼的推力和推进效率特性,研制了基于虚拟仪器（VI）的微型扑翼风洞实验系统。该系统以西北工业大学现有微型风洞为基础,采用了高精度六分量天平、角度传感器、新型机翼扑动机构、可编程电源、工控机等设备,利用基于虚拟仪器（VI）的LabView软件对上述设备进行集中控制与数据处理。利用上述实验系统研究了风速、扑动频率、展弦比、根稍比及机翼扑动幅度对微型扑翼推力和推进效率的影响,总结出了微型扑翼推力及推进效率的基本规律,为微型扑翼飞行器机翼设计及飞行控制方式提供了参考。     

扑翼的变刚度设计及其对升力和推力的影响

为提高扑翼飞行器的升力和推力以提高其飞行性能,运用生物扑翼的仿生原理,研究扑翼飞行器的扑翼升力和扑翼推力随扑翼刚度变化的机理。借鉴"变刚度关节机构和平面转动冗余并联机构通过调节张力改变刚度"这一机构学原理,运用变刚度关节机构相互串联实现扑翼在扑动方向上变刚度,同时运用平面转动冗余并联机构实现扑翼在扭转方向上变刚度。建立扑翼的扑动关节刚度和扭转机构刚度随预张力变化的模型,并通过实验和仿真验证扑翼扑动关节刚度和扭转机构刚度随预张力的变化。研究扑翼的升力和推力与扑翼刚度之间的关系,验证了通过调节扑翼刚度匹配其扑动频率可以提高扑翼的升力和推力。     

一种仿生扑翼飞行器的设计及动力学分析

为了提高仿生扑翼飞行器设计水平,弄清仿生扑翼飞行器的动力学特性、改善其飞行性能,设计了一种折展翼仿鸟扑动飞行样机,并对其动力学特性进行了分析。通过仿生方式设计了基于曲柄连杆的折展扑动机构,建立了扑翼机构的运动学模型,得到了相关运动学参数,并采用拉格朗日方法,推导出扑翼扑动时的动力学模型。基于条带方法对该扑翼的气动力、气动力矩载荷进行估算,分析了折展扑翼非对称扑动时翼翅气动力矩变化规律,结果表明:与一般直扑翼相比,折展翼在上扑阶段受到更小的阻力,因而扑翼扑动过程中能够获得更大的升力。基于ADAMS软件包,对扑动机构关键铰接位置的力学特性进行分析,为优化扑动机构、提高其结构强度提供重要参考。      

Flapping and flexible wings for biological and micro air vehicles

Micro air vehicles (MAVs) with wing spans of 15 cm or less, and flight speed of 30–60 kph are of interest for military and civilian applications. There are two prominent features of MAV flight: (i) low Reynolds number (10⁴–10⁵), resulting in unfavorable aerodynamic conditions to support controlled flight, and (ii) small physical dimensions, resulting in certain favorable scaling characteristics including structural strength, reduced stall speed, and low inertia. Based on observations of biological flight vehicles, it appears that wing motion and flexible airfoils are two key attributes for flight at low Reynolds number. The small size of MAVs corresponds in nature to small birds, which do not glide like large birds, but instead flap with considerable change of wing shape during a single flapping cycle. With flapping and flexible wings, birds overcome the deteriorating aerodynamic performance under steady flow conditions by employing unsteady mechanisms. In this article, we review both biological and aeronautical literatures to present salient features relevant to MAVs. We first summarize scaling laws of biological and micro air vehicles involving wing span, wing loading, vehicle mass, cruising speed, flapping frequency, and power. Next we discuss kinematics of flapping wings and aerodynamic models for analyzing lift, drag and power. Then we present issues related to low Reynolds number flows and airfoil shape selection. Recent work on flexible structures capable of adjusting the airfoil shape in response to freestream variations is also discussed.     

Flight control of a large-scale flapping-wing flying robotic bird:System development and flight experiment

Large-scale flapping-wing flying robotic birds have huge application potential in outdoor tasks, such as military reconnaissance, environment exploring, disaster rescue and so on. In this paper, a multiple modes flight control method and system are proposed for a large-scale robotic bird which has 2.3 m wingspan and 650 g mass. Different from small flapping wing aerial vehicle,the mass of its wings cannot be neglected and the flapping frequency are much lower. Therefore, the influence of transie...     

单曲柄双摇杆扑翼驱动机构的优化设计

微扑翼飞行器在试飞过程中时常发生向左或者向右倾斜栽落的现象,这是由于左右扑翼动作的不完全对称性引起的.由此建立了驱动机构在一个运动周期内左右扑翼角之差和角速度之差的数学模型,并在机械学、仿生学等约束条件下利用模式搜索法对目标函数进行了优化设计.优化前后的参数对比分析和试飞试验均表明:该优化显著增强了微扑翼飞行器的运动对称性.      

变后掠变展长翼身组合体系统设计与特性分析

为了探索可变形飞行器气动、结构和控制关键技术,在可变后掠角及展长的翼身组合体风洞试验模型系统设计与特性分析方面开展了研究。系统设计包括总体方案设计、近似理论分析与计算流体力学(CFD)数值模拟、结构与控制技术集成;特性分析包括结构特性、控制特性、定常与非定常气动特性的测试及其分析。结果表明:大尺度变形能显著改变飞行器的升力、阻力和升阻比等气动特性,进而使可变形飞行器能适应多种环境和任务,因而在全飞行周期中比传统固定外形飞行器具有更优的性能。     

多段柔性变体扑翼飞行器设计

多段柔性变体扑翼模仿海鸥翅膀的复杂运动.观察海鸥翅膀的运动周期,设计了包含慢频率扑动、展向折弯、弦向扭转和结构柔性变形的扑翼模型,并应用准定常方法计算气动力,为该扑翼飞行器设计提供依据.在CATIA和3DMAX中设计多段柔性变体扑翼机的三维模型和运动模拟,制作样机进行飞行试验,研究其平飞、爬升、偏航等飞行姿态,结果表明升力和推力与数值计算结果吻合.相较于原有扑翼飞行器,多段柔性变体扑翼飞行器可以慢频率扑动飞行,调整扑翼形状.      

Experimental investigation of influence of strake wings on self-induced roll motion at high angles of attack

The modern high performance air vehicles are required to have extreme maneuverability,which includes the ability of controlled maneuvers at high angle of attack. However, the nonlinear and unsteady aerodynamic phenomena, such as flow separation, vortices interaction, and vortices breaking down, will occur during the flight at high angle of attack, which could induce the uncommanded motions for the air vehicles. For the high maneuverable and agile air missile, the nonlinear roll motions would occur at the high angle of attack. The present work is focused on the selfinduced nonlinear roll motion for a missile configuration and discusses the influence of the strake wings on the roll motion according to the results from free-to-roll test and PIV measurement using the models assembled with different strake wings at a = 60°. The free-to-roll results show that the model with whole strake wings(baseline), the model assembled with three strake wings(Case A)and the model assembled with two opposite strake wings(Case C) experience the spinning, while the model assembled with two adjacent strake wings(Case B), the model assembled with one strake wing(Case D) and the model with no strake wing(Case E) trim or slightly vibrate at a certain "×"rolling angle, which mean that the rolling stability can be improved by dismantling certain strake wings. The flow field results from PIV measurement show that the leeward asymmetric vortices are induced by the windward strake wings. The vortices would interact the strake wings and induce crossflow on the downstream fins to degrade the rolling stability of the model. This could be the main reason for the self-induced roll motion of the model at a = 60°.     

微型扑翼飞行器控制系统的研究现状

微型扑翼飞行器作为一种新概念飞行器有着广泛的应用前景和市场需求。简要介绍了微型扑翼飞行器的概念、特点和应用，以及优势控制系统设计的技术难点；重点从控制理论与算法、控制元器件的设计、控制系统实现等三个方面概述了国内外微型扑翼飞行器控制技术的最新研究成果和发展趋势。在此基础上，总结出微型扑翼飞行器控制系统研究需要解决的关键技术和今后研究的重点。     

Synergism of flow and noise control technologies

This paper will discuss the synergism of flow and noise control technologies relevant to both air and undersea vehicles. Because many review publications specifically focus on either flow control or noise control, this presentation will not provide an exhaustive literature survey. Sufficient citations will highlight the effectiveness of the technologies; however, the primary goal of this paper is to outline direct and indirect linkages, counterproductive linkages, and examples with no linkages between noise and flow control technologies. Hence, woven through out the individual sections is a focus on the various forms of linkage between flow and noise control applications.     

Aerodynamic modelling of insect-like flapping flight for micro air vehicles

Insect-like flapping flight offers a power-efficient and highly manoeuvrable basis for a micro air vehicle capable of indoor flight. The development of such a vehicle requires a careful wing aerodynamic design. This is particularly true since the flapping wings will be responsible for lift, propulsion and manoeuvres, all at the same time. It sets the requirement for an aerodynamic tool that will enable study of the parametric design space and converge on one (or more) preferred configurations. In this respect, aerodynamic modelling approaches are the most attractive, principally due to their ability to iterate rapidly through various design configurations. In this article, we review the main approaches found in the literature, categorising them into steady-state, quasi-steady, semi-empirical and fully unsteady methods. The unsteady aerodynamic model of Ansari et al. seems to be the most satisfactory to date and is considered in some detail. Finally, avenues for further research in this field are suggested.     

扑翼飞行器动力系统建模方法

为快速评估扑翼飞行器的航时,便于针对不同扑动翼进行动力系统设计与优化,逐步减少实物验证与试飞,加快扑翼飞行器的研制,基于实验数据参数辨识的方法建立了包含直流无刷电机、电调（ESC）、锂电池和扑动机构等扑翼飞行器动力系统组件的动态模型,其中电机模型相对误差小于10%,锂电池动态模型相对误差小于6%;提出了一种基于风洞试验气动数据和功率数据的扑动轴瞬时气动载荷半经验高精度建模方法,解决了气动载荷测量较为困难的问题,模型确定系数大于0.89;集成以上模型后的扑翼飞行器仿真系统还包含扑动翼周期平均气动模型、平尾气动模型和纵向控制模型,确保仿真在动态配平状态下进行,可进行全任务剖面航时仿真,航时仿真与实际试飞结果相比误差小于3%。集成的扑翼飞行器仿真系统采用模块化建模思想,各模型参数独立可调,能进一步应用于扑翼飞行器多学科优化等研究。     

Unsteady aerodynamics and flow control for flapping wing flyers

The creation of micro air vehicles (MAVs) of the same general sizes and weight as natural fliers has spawned renewed interest in flapping wing flight. With a wingspan of approximately 15 cm and a flight speed of a few meters per second, MAVs experience the same low Reynolds number (10⁴–10⁵) flight conditions as their biological counterparts. In this flow regime, rigid fixed wings drop dramatically in aerodynamic performance while flexible flapping wings gain efficacy and are the preferred propulsion method for small natural fliers. Researchers have long realized that steady-state aerodynamics does not properly capture the physical phenomena or forces present in flapping flight at this scale. Hence, unsteady flow mechanisms must dominate this regime. Furthermore, due to the low flight speeds, any disturbance such as gusts or wind will dramatically change the aerodynamic conditions around the MAV. In response, a suitable feedback control system and actuation technology must be developed so that the wing can maintain its aerodynamic efficiency in this extremely dynamic situation; one where the unsteady separated flow field and wing structure are tightly coupled and interact nonlinearly. For instance, birds and bats control their flexible wings with muscle tissue to successfully deal with rapid changes in the flow environment. Drawing from their example, perhaps MAVs can use lightweight actuators in conjunction with adaptive feedback control to shape the wing and achieve active flow control. This article first reviews the scaling laws and unsteady flow regime constraining both biological and man-made fliers. Then a summary of vortex dominated unsteady aerodynamics follows. Next, aeroelastic coupling and its effect on lift and thrust are discussed. Afterwards, flow control strategies found in nature and devised by man to deal with separated flows are examined. Recent work is also presented in using microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) actuators and angular speed variation to achieve active flow control for MAVs. Finally, an explanation for aerodynamic gains seen in flexible versus rigid membrane wings, derived from an unsteady three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics model with an integrated distributed control algorithm, is presented.     

临近空间飞行器推进系统预冷器关键技术

临近空间由于其在现代战争中的重要战略意义已成为各国航空航天领域的研究重点,高超声速飞行器更是国家临近空间军事实力的一个重要标志。由于吸气式高超声速飞行器具有较高的飞行高度与马赫数,预冷技术已成为高超声速飞行器推进系统中的一项关键技术,而高性能预冷器设计是预冷技术的一个重要研究方向,预冷器的可靠性与流动传热特性是预冷系统的重要影响参数,对于紧凑、高效、高可靠性先进预冷器的研究具有十分重要的意义。基于目前公开的临近空间高超声速飞行器的主要动力形式及其对预冷技术的刚性需求,对预冷器设计中的关键技术与发展方向做了详细的阐述。     

航天器返回地球的气动特性综述

航天器返回地球的飞行过程中,气动特性是实现将宇宙飞行速度减到落地前速度、保证再入飞行得到有效控制以及再入防热安全可靠的关键因素。针对简单旋成体气动外形、半弹道式再入控制、烧蚀防热类返回航天器,综述了返回地球过程中变化的空气流域特性、航天器周围的气体绕流环境、空气与航天器作用产生的动力学与热效应等。系统地给出了该类航天器的再入气动特性参数与飞行性能的共性规律,包括:气动阻力与再入减速、气动升力与再入轨迹控制、配平攻角与飞行稳定性、气动加热与防热,以及再入过程中不同气动特性航天器、气象条件变化等对再入飞行性能的影响规律。为航天器开展返回飞行过程的跨流域气动性能工程研制提供设计参考。