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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: EP/C511190/1
Title: Development and Aeroelastic Optimisation Of A Piezoelectric Powered Flapping Wing Micro Air Vehicle
Principal Investigator: Lawson, Visiting Professor NJ
Other Investigators:
Huang, Dr Z Whatmore, Professor RW Guo, Dr S
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Servocell (PBT LTD)
Department: Sch of Engineering
Organisation: Cranfield University
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 27 January 2005 Ends: 26 July 2008 Value (£): 435,300
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Aerodynamics
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Aerospace, Defence and Marine
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
Flapping wing Micro Air Vehicles (MAV's) offer potential advantages over equivalent fixed wing or rotary wing systems. These include the ability to vary wing beat kinematics and generate large peak lift coefficients and hence large control moments. This allows rapid transition between flight modes including hover. Such characteristics are beyond the capability of conventional fixed-wing or rotary-wing systems. A flapping wing propulsion system also has many unsteady flow and structural features in some cases with insect wing strokes of 160 degrees and wing rotations of more than 90 degrees. These complexities present major challenges to any mechanical based propulsion design seeking similar performance.Recent work has also shown many naturally occuring flapping wing systems, such as birds and insects, have flapping frequencies tuned for maximum propulsive efficiency. This design optimisation is combined with highly flexible or aeroelastic wings for a lightweight, high performance lifting system. The following proposal aims to exploit advances in piezoelectric (PZT) technology as the basis of a powerplant for an optimised aeroelastic flapping wing machine. The research will involve a three part programme of PZT development, aeroelastic modelling and wind tunnel measurement to produce a PZT powered flapping wing system.
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Organisation Website: http://www.cranfield.ac.uk