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Biomimetics
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Bioinspired Flapping Wing Aerodynamics: Progress and Challenges
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Bioinspired Flapping Wing Aerodynamics: Progress and Challenges

A special issue of Biomimetics (ISSN 2313-7673). This special issue belongs to the section "Bioinspired Sensorics, Information Processing and Control".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 May 2025 | Viewed by 2570

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Hui Hu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Aerospace Engineering, Iowa State University, 2271 Howe Hall, Room 1200, Ames, IA 50011, USA
Interests: bioinspired aerodynamics; advanced flow diagnostics; experimental fluid mechanics and heat transfer aircraft/aeroengine icing and anti-/de-icing technology
Dr. Qiang Zhong

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50010, USA
Interests: unsteady fluid mechanics; bioinspired propulsion; robotics; energy harvesting; flow perception
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Despite significant progress made in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) over recent decades, these systems often lag behind natural flyers in rapid maneuvers, hovering efficiency, obstacle avoidance, flow perception, and gust rejection. A substantial leap in UAV development can be achieved by drawing inspiration from nature. Birds, insects, and other natural flyers have evolved over millions of years to achieve highly efficient, adaptable, and robust flight mechanisms, particularly excelling in unsteady aerodynamics, navigating in complex flow environments, and even leveraging natural flows. Understanding and translating the aerodynamic underlying principles into engineering designs promises to enhance the aerodynamic performance, efficiency, and versatility of UAVs. This Special Issue aims to gather pioneering research and the state-of-the-art in the field of bioinspired aerodynamics for UAVs, addressing both the advancements made and the challenges that remain.

Prof. Dr. Hui Hu
Dr. Qiang Zhong
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biomimetics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • unsteady aerodynamics
  • flapping wing
  • bioinspired aerodynamics
  • bioinspired flow sensing
  • maneuverability
  • flow interaction
  • gust mitigation
  • complex flow navigation

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

26 pages, 12967 KiB  
Article
Numerical Investigation on the Aerodynamic Benefits of Corrugated Wing in Dragonfly-like Hovering Flapping Wing
by Arun Raj Shanmugam, Chang Hyun Sohn and Ki Sun Park
Biomimetics 2025, 10(5), 256; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics10050256 - 22 Apr 2025
Abstract
The effect of corrugated wings on the aerodynamic characteristics of a dragonfly-like hovering flapping wing is investigated using two-dimensional numerical simulations. Two types of pitch motion profiles, namely ‘sinusoidal’ and ‘trapezoidal’, are employed. The results obtained from the corrugated wings at Reynolds number [...] Read more.
The effect of corrugated wings on the aerodynamic characteristics of a dragonfly-like hovering flapping wing is investigated using two-dimensional numerical simulations. Two types of pitch motion profiles, namely ‘sinusoidal’ and ‘trapezoidal’, are employed. The results obtained from the corrugated wings at Reynolds number Re = 2150 are then compared with the flat plate geometries to analyze the aerodynamic benefits of wing corrugation. The aerodynamic characteristics of corrugated wings are investigated quantitatively using cycle-averaged vertical force coefficient. For the qualitative investigation, time histories of vertical force coefficient, vorticity, and surface pressure distribution are used. The results reveal that the corrugated wings perform better than the flat plates in all three flapping configurations for both sinusoidal and trapezoidal pitch profiles. For a tandem wing with a sinusoidal pitch profile, the corrugated wings yield a vertical force generation nearly 14%, 22%, and 12%, higher than the flat plate geometries for ψ = 0°, 90°, and 180°, respectively. The corrugated wing sheds a relatively stronger detached counter clockwise vortex (CCWV) on the lower surface as compared to the flat plate, and hence, the vertical force is much higher for the corrugated wing. For a tandem wing with a trapezoidal pitch profile, the corrugated wings yield a vertical force generation nearly 27%, 22%, and 57%, higher than the flat plate geometries for ψ = 0°, 90°, and 180°, respectively. In corrugated wing geometry, the delayed stall mechanism is slightly postponed due to the corrugation shape’s ability to trap the vortex structures, leading to a positive effect on vertical force production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioinspired Flapping Wing Aerodynamics: Progress and Challenges)
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16 pages, 6610 KiB  
Article
Numerical Simulation of a Bird-Inspired UAV Which Turns Without a Tail Through Proverse Yaw
by Wee-Beng Tay, Timothy Shawn Jie-Sheng Chong, Jia-Qiang Chan, Woei-Leong Chan and Boo-Cheong Khoo
Biomimetics 2025, 10(4), 253; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics10040253 - 21 Apr 2025
Abstract
This study numerically explores a bird-inspired tail-less unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) design which can turn through proverse yaw by using a bell-shaped spanload wing configuration. The research methodology consists of two phases. In the first phase, the objective is to use computational fluid [...] Read more.
This study numerically explores a bird-inspired tail-less unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) design which can turn through proverse yaw by using a bell-shaped spanload wing configuration. The research methodology consists of two phases. In the first phase, the objective is to use computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations to validate that the bell-shaped spanload wing configuration produces proverse yaw, instead of adverse yaw, similar to other typical wing configurations. This allows the UAV to turn without a tail. The solver used is OpenFOAM and a special self-written routine is used to allow the grid to move together with the UAV, which has six degrees-of-freedom (6DOFs) to translate and rotate when its ailerons deflect after reaching steady motion. In the second phase, we investigate the effect of the sweep angle on the proverse yaw. Results show that proverse yaw is indeed produced due to the bell-shaped spanload wing configuration, as CFD simulation shows the UAV turning after aileron deflection. The effect of the sweep angle is more profound on the proverse yaw as simulations show that increasing the sweep angle by 10° increases the turning effect slightly, but decreasing it by 10° instead results in adverse yaw. These findings will have important implications for improving aircraft efficiencies and the development of wing designs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioinspired Flapping Wing Aerodynamics: Progress and Challenges)
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13 pages, 5052 KiB  
Article
The Influence of Wing Membrane Elasticity on Aerodynamics in a Bat-Inspired Flapping Robot
by Szu-I Yeh and Chia-Hsu Chiang
Biomimetics 2025, 10(3), 161; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics10030161 - 5 Mar 2025
Viewed by 527
Abstract
This study investigates the aerodynamic effects of wing membrane elasticity inspired by bats, which exhibit exceptional maneuverability and stability. By mimicking bat wing folding and flapping motions, a 2-DOF flapping mechanism was developed to examine the impact of wing membrane elasticity. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) [...] Read more.
This study investigates the aerodynamic effects of wing membrane elasticity inspired by bats, which exhibit exceptional maneuverability and stability. By mimicking bat wing folding and flapping motions, a 2-DOF flapping mechanism was developed to examine the impact of wing membrane elasticity. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membranes with tunable elastic properties were fabricated by adjusting the ratio of the curing agent (B agent), with the 1/50 ratio exhibiting the greatest extensibility and the lowest Young’s modulus. Experimental results demonstrate that wing membrane elasticity significantly influences aerodynamic performance. During flapping, increased elasticity led to larger camber changes, enhancing vertical lift through stronger leading-edge vortices, as confirmed by PIV flow field measurements. However, when elasticity became excessively high, as in the 1/50 membrane, the lift benefit diminished, and horizontal force decreased, indicating a trade-off between vertical and horizontal aerodynamic performance. Additionally, the folding mechanism was found to be critical for drag reduction, reducing nearly 50% of negative horizontal forces during flight. By integrating adjustable wing membrane properties and a bioinspired flapping mechanism, this research provides valuable insights into the aerodynamic characteristics of bat flight. These findings not only enhance the understanding of flapping wing aerodynamics but also offer guidance for the design of efficient and agile bioinspired aerial vehicles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioinspired Flapping Wing Aerodynamics: Progress and Challenges)
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15 pages, 10569 KiB  
Article
Prediction and Measurement of Hovering Flapping Frequency Under Simulated Low-Air-Density and Low-Gravity Conditions
by Hyeonjun Lim, Giheon Ha and Hoon Cheol Park
Biomimetics 2025, 10(2), 83; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics10020083 - 29 Jan 2025
Viewed by 867
Abstract
The ability to predict lift is crucial for enabling flapping flights on planets with varying air densities and gravities. After determining the lift required for a flapping flight on Earth, it can be predicted under different conditions using a scaling equation as a [...] Read more.
The ability to predict lift is crucial for enabling flapping flights on planets with varying air densities and gravities. After determining the lift required for a flapping flight on Earth, it can be predicted under different conditions using a scaling equation as a function of air density and gravity, assuming the cycle-average lift coefficient remains constant. However, in flapping wings, passive deformation due to aerodynamic and inertial forces may alter the flapping-wing kinematics, complicating predictions. In this study, we investigated changes in the lift coefficient of flapping wings under various air density and gravity conditions simulated using a low-pressure chamber and tilting stand, respectively. The current study found that the cycle-averaged lift coefficients remained nearly constant, varying by less than 7% across the air density and gravity conditions. The difference between the measured and predicted hovering frequencies increased under a lower air density due to the higher vibration-induced friction. The power consumption analysis demonstrated higher energy demands in thinner atmospheres and predicted a required power of 5.14 W for a hovering flight on Mars, which is a 66% increase compared to that on Earth. Future experiments will test Martian air density and gravity conditions to enable flapping flights on Mars. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioinspired Flapping Wing Aerodynamics: Progress and Challenges)
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16 pages, 2640 KiB  
Article
Biomimetic Linkage Mechanism Robust Control for Variable Stator Vanes in Aero-Engine
by Qinqin Sun, Zhangyang Lu, Xingyu Gui and Ye-Hwa Chen
Biomimetics 2024, 9(12), 778; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics9120778 - 21 Dec 2024
Viewed by 652
Abstract
This work addresses the position tracking control design of the stator vane driven by electro-hydrostatic actuators facing uncertain aerodynamic disturbances. Rapidly changing aerodynamic conditions impose complex disturbance torques on the guide vanes. Consequently, a challenging task is to enhance control precision in complex [...] Read more.
This work addresses the position tracking control design of the stator vane driven by electro-hydrostatic actuators facing uncertain aerodynamic disturbances. Rapidly changing aerodynamic conditions impose complex disturbance torques on the guide vanes. Consequently, a challenging task is to enhance control precision in complex uncertain environments. Inspired by the principles of mammalian muscle movement, a novel robust control strategy based on the backstepping method has been proposed. Using backstepping, virtual rotational speed and virtual pressure difference force are designed, which decompose the high-order position closed-loop control problem into three lower-order parts, eliminating the need for matching conditions. Subsequently, robust controllers were designed, and stability proofs and performance analyses of the controllers were provided. This control strategy was tested through numerical hydraulic simulation. The results show that compared to other control methods, this approach significantly improves tracking accuracy and robustness. Therefore, it is believed that this method has the potential to become a new generation solution for such problems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioinspired Flapping Wing Aerodynamics: Progress and Challenges)
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