• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2007.05a
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• pp.435-440
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• 2007

Fish-mimetic robots or fish-mimetic propulsors have been developed or under construction. A mechanical system cannot have the same functions as bio-organic systems. Thus, the hydrodynamic characteristics of fish locomotion should be well understood in order to develop and control a feasible intelligent fish-mimetic robot with its optimal motion pattern known. In this paper, a mackerel-mimetic robot fish is fabricated in order to understand the hydrodynamic characteristics of fish locomotion. A simplified unsteady flow theory is also applied to the hydrodynamic analysis of the motion of the anterior part of the robotic fish. The normal and axial forces of the fish are measured by changing the amplitude and frequencies of fanning motion. It is found that the present theoretical results agree with the measured data.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.40 no.8
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• pp.662-669
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• 2012

The effect of aspect ratio (AR) on the aerodynamic characteristics of a flapping wing was examined to analyze the design parameters of an insect-based MAV. The experimental model constructed with 4-bar linkages was operated in a water tank with the condition of a low Reynolds number. A water-proof micro-force load cell was fabricated and installed at the root of the wing which is made of a plexiglas. The wing shapes were based on the planform of a fruit fly wing. The ARs selected were 1.87, 3.74 and 7.48 and the Reynolds number was fixed at $10^4$. For AR=1.87 and 3.74, distinct lift peaks which indicate unsteady effects such as 'wake-capture' were observed at the moment of the start of the wing-stroke. However, for AR=7.48, no unsteady effects were observed. These phenomena were also observed in the delayed rotation case. The results indicate that a larger AR provides better aerodynamic performance for the insect-based flapping wing which can be applied in MAV designs.