"After 3.8 billion years of research and development, failures are fossils, and what surrounds us is the secret to survival."
― Janine M. Benyus, Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature
Fig. 01, humpback whale bubble net feeding. from Duke Marine Lab UAS
01. Morphing Wing with Traveling Waves (Paper 01)
Mov. 01, the traveling wave driven on the surface of the wing (high-speed)
Fig. 02, traveling wave wing with Chebyshev linkage (design sketch)
Nature evolution has taught fish to be fabulous fluid mechanist. The wave-like movements of fish is found to a useful way to reduce the drag by improving the boundary layer control, and hence a very efficient method of propulsion [1].
With a collaboration of Dr. Sam Calisch and Prof. Neil Gershenfeld, novel manufacture techniques such as origami, chebyshev linkage and planar magnetic membrane are tested to construct a prototype wing with controllable traveling wave driven on the wing surface. This prototype wing has then been tested in the towing tank, and is found to have the potential to reduce the drag by about 15% at certain wave speed and angle of attack (AoA).
Fig. 04, test model in the towing tank.
Fig. 05, drag load with different driven wave speed at three different AoA.
02. Tail Slap (On-going)
03. Tuna Fin (On-going)