UC San Diego

Elastic components in flapping wing micro-aerial vehicles, or FWMAV, have been a topicof interest for their high dynamic efficiency and energy storage. Previous work has looked at the use of a dynamically scaled robo-physical model to analyze the energetics of a spring-wing system. Both the simulation and experimental analysis reaffirm the advantages of resonance behavior in high-frequency wing stroke motion. However, this system, similar to its biological counterparts, suffers from significant energy loss due to damping. A method to accelerate the system’s transition into stable resonance is needed. In this vein, the effect of active pitch control during the emergence of resonance behavior in a spring-wing system is analyzed and studied. Simulation of the dynamic model was constructed for kinematic analysis. To validate the hypothesis, a physical robotic apparatus is used to experimentally observe the behavior of the system. We determine the variation in kinematic phase difference between the stroke and pitch angle will result in changes in the effective drag coefficient. The results of this paper can be applied in furthering the development of active pitch locomotion of a FWMAV and studies of insect flight behavior.