Aerodynamic evaluation of wing shape and wing orientation in four butterfly species using numerical simulations and a low-speed wind tunnel, and its implications for the design of flying micro-robots.
Many insects are well adapted to long-distance migration despite the larger energetic costs of flight for small body sizes. To optimize wing design for next-generation flying micro-robots, we analyse butterfly wing shapes and wing orientations at full scale using numerical simulations and in a low-speed wind tunnel at 2, 3.5 and 5 m s-1. The results indicate that wing orientations which maximize wing span lead to the highest glide performance, with lift to drag ratios up to 6.28, while spreading the fore-wings forward can increase the maximum lift produced and thus improve versatility. We discuss the implications for flying micro-robots and how the results assist in understanding the behaviour of the butterfly species tested.
Department of Aeronautics , Imperial College London , London , UK.
Alejandro
0000-0002-6433-4179
A
Ortega Ancel
Museum of Comparative Zoology , Harvard University , Cambridge, MA , USA.
Rodney
R
Eastwood
Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering , Harvard University , Cambridge, MA , USA.
Daniel
D
Vogt
Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering , Harvard University , Cambridge, MA , USA.
Carter
C
Ithier
Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering , Harvard University , Cambridge, MA , USA.
Michael
M
Smith
Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering , Harvard University , Cambridge, MA , USA.
Rob
R
Wood
Department of Aeronautics , Imperial College London , London , UK.
Mirko
M
Kovač
butterfly wings; computational fluid dynamics; gliding; micro-robots; wind tunnel