Modeling and Simulation of Nonlinear Dynamics of Flapping Wing Micro Air Vehicles

Abstract

included. Simulations are compared with previous modeling efforts, which neglected the wings’ mass and the associated inertial coupling effects on the body. Simulations show a qualitative consistency for the nonlinear model with wing effects when different aerodynamic models are chosen as inputs. Simulation results show a significant differenceinthemodelbehaviorwhenthemassofthewings,initiallysetat5.7%ofthebodymass,isincludedversus whenthemassisneglected.Asthemassofthewingsisdecreased,thesimulationresultsofthemodelwithwingeffects approachtheresultswhenthestandardaircraftmodelisused.Simulationsleadtotheconclusionthatthemasseffects of the wings are important for dynamics, stability, and control analyses.