Modelling of a Hybrid UAV Using Test Flight Data

The concept of an aircraft capable of both hover as well as fast forward flight (hybrid) has recently been implemented on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). Hybrid UAVs combine hover capability with long range and endurance. As UAVs are often required to operate without human intervention, there is a call for autonomous guidance of hybrid UAVs....

Modelling of a Hybrid UAV Using Test Flight Data

The concept of an aircraft capable of both hover as well as fast forward flight (hybrid) has recently been implemented on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). Hybrid UAVs combine hover capability with long range and endurance. As UAVs are often required to operate without human intervention, there is a call for autonomous guidance of hybrid UAVs....

Vortex Formation and Force Generation Mechanisms of the DelFly II in Hovering Flight

This paper addresses the unsteady aerodynamic mechanisms in the hovering flight of the DelFly II flapping-wing Micro Aerial Vehicle (MAV). Stereoscopic Particle Image Velocimetry (Stereo-PIV) were carried out around the wings at a high framing rate. Thrust-force was measured to investigate the relation between the vortex dynamics and the...

Vortex Formation and Force Generation Mechanisms of the DelFly II in Hovering Flight

This paper addresses the unsteady aerodynamic mechanisms in the hovering flight of the DelFly II flapping-wing Micro Aerial Vehicle (MAV). Stereoscopic Particle Image Velocimetry (Stereo-PIV) were carried out around the wings at a high framing rate. Thrust-force was measured to investigate the relation between the vortex dynamics and the...

Optic-flow based slope estimation for autonomous landing

Micro Air Vehicles need to have a robust landing capability, especially when they operate outside line-of-sight. Autonomous landing requires the identification of a relatively flat landing surface that does not have too large an inclination. In this article, a vision algorithm is introduced that fits a second-order approximation to the optic...

Flow visualization in the wake of flapping-wing MAV ‘DelFly II’ in forward flight

Time-resolved velocity field measurements in the wake of the flapping wings of the DelFly II Micro Aerial Vehicle (MAV) in forward flight configuration were obtained by Stereoscopic Particle Image Velocimetry (Stereo-PIV). The PIV measurements were performed at several spanwise planes in the wake of the flapping wings and at a high framing rate...

Wing flexibility effects in clap-and-fling

The work explores the use of time-resolved tomographic PIV measurements to study a flapping-wing model, the related vortex generation mechanisms and the effect of wing flexibility on the clap-and-fling movement in particular. An experimental setup is designed and realized in a water tank by use of a single wing model and a mirror plate to...

Wing flexibility effects in clap-and-fling

The work explores the use of time-resolved tomographic PIV measurements to study a flapping-wing model, the related vortex generation mechanisms and the effect of wing flexibility on the clap-and-fling movement in particular. An experimental setup is designed and realized in a water tank by use of a single wing model and a mirror plate to...

Aerodynamic Experiments on DelFly II: Unsteady Lift Enhancement

Particle image velocimetry measurements and simultaneous force measurements have been performed on the DelFly II flapping-wing MAV, to investigate the flow-field behavior and the aerodynamic forces generated. For flapping wing motion it is expected that both the clap and peel mechanism and the occurrence of a leading edge vortex during the...