3D-Printed Bio-Inspired Mechanisms for Bird-like Morphing Drones
Birds have unique flight characteristics unrivaled by even the most advanced drones due in part to their lightweight morphable wings and tail. Advancements in 3D-printing, servomotors, and composite materials are enabling more innovative airplane designs inspired by avian flight that could lead to o...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/21/11814 |
| _version_ | 1827765847454646272 |
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| author | Peter L. Bishay Matthew Brody David Podell Francisco Corte Garcia Erik Munoz Evette Minassian Kevin Bradley |
| author_facet | Peter L. Bishay Matthew Brody David Podell Francisco Corte Garcia Erik Munoz Evette Minassian Kevin Bradley |
| author_sort | Peter L. Bishay |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Birds have unique flight characteristics unrivaled by even the most advanced drones due in part to their lightweight morphable wings and tail. Advancements in 3D-printing, servomotors, and composite materials are enabling more innovative airplane designs inspired by avian flight that could lead to optimized flight characteristics compared to traditional designs. Morphing technology aims to improve the aerodynamic and power efficiencies of aircraft by eliminating traditional control surfaces and implementing wings with significant shape-changing ability. This work proposes designs of 3D-printed, bio-inspired, non-flapping, morphing wing and tail mechanisms for unmanned aerial vehicles. The proposed wing design features a corrugated flexible 3D-printed structure to facilitate sweep morphing with expansion and contraction of the attached artificial feathers. The proposed tail feather expansion mechanism features a 3D-printed flexible structure with circumferential corrugation. The various available 3D-printing materials and the capability to print geometrically complex components have enabled the realization of the proposed morphing deformations without demanding relatively large actuation forces. Proof-of-concept models were manufactured and tested to demonstrate the effectiveness of the selected materials and actuators in achieving the desired morphing deformations that resemble those of seagulls. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T11:33:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-718a4f8b0e2245eeac88fdef428d701a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T11:33:39Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-718a4f8b0e2245eeac88fdef428d701a2023-11-10T14:58:49ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172023-10-0113211181410.3390/app1321118143D-Printed Bio-Inspired Mechanisms for Bird-like Morphing DronesPeter L. Bishay0Matthew Brody1David Podell2Francisco Corte Garcia3Erik Munoz4Evette Minassian5Kevin Bradley6Department of Mechanical Engineering, California State University, Northridge, CA 91330, USADepartment of Mechanical Engineering, California State University, Northridge, CA 91330, USADepartment of Mechanical Engineering, California State University, Northridge, CA 91330, USADepartment of Mechanical Engineering, California State University, Northridge, CA 91330, USADepartment of Mechanical Engineering, California State University, Northridge, CA 91330, USADepartment of Mechanical Engineering, California State University, Northridge, CA 91330, USADepartment of Mechanical Engineering, California State University, Northridge, CA 91330, USABirds have unique flight characteristics unrivaled by even the most advanced drones due in part to their lightweight morphable wings and tail. Advancements in 3D-printing, servomotors, and composite materials are enabling more innovative airplane designs inspired by avian flight that could lead to optimized flight characteristics compared to traditional designs. Morphing technology aims to improve the aerodynamic and power efficiencies of aircraft by eliminating traditional control surfaces and implementing wings with significant shape-changing ability. This work proposes designs of 3D-printed, bio-inspired, non-flapping, morphing wing and tail mechanisms for unmanned aerial vehicles. The proposed wing design features a corrugated flexible 3D-printed structure to facilitate sweep morphing with expansion and contraction of the attached artificial feathers. The proposed tail feather expansion mechanism features a 3D-printed flexible structure with circumferential corrugation. The various available 3D-printing materials and the capability to print geometrically complex components have enabled the realization of the proposed morphing deformations without demanding relatively large actuation forces. Proof-of-concept models were manufactured and tested to demonstrate the effectiveness of the selected materials and actuators in achieving the desired morphing deformations that resemble those of seagulls.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/21/118143D-printingunmanned aerial vehiclesmorphing aerospace structures |
| spellingShingle | Peter L. Bishay Matthew Brody David Podell Francisco Corte Garcia Erik Munoz Evette Minassian Kevin Bradley 3D-Printed Bio-Inspired Mechanisms for Bird-like Morphing Drones Applied Sciences 3D-printing unmanned aerial vehicles morphing aerospace structures |
| title | 3D-Printed Bio-Inspired Mechanisms for Bird-like Morphing Drones |
| title_full | 3D-Printed Bio-Inspired Mechanisms for Bird-like Morphing Drones |
| title_fullStr | 3D-Printed Bio-Inspired Mechanisms for Bird-like Morphing Drones |
| title_full_unstemmed | 3D-Printed Bio-Inspired Mechanisms for Bird-like Morphing Drones |
| title_short | 3D-Printed Bio-Inspired Mechanisms for Bird-like Morphing Drones |
| title_sort | 3d printed bio inspired mechanisms for bird like morphing drones |
| topic | 3D-printing unmanned aerial vehicles morphing aerospace structures |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/21/11814 |
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