• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.33 no.12
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• pp.48-53
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• 2005

In this paper, we present our recent progress in the LIPCA (Lightweight Piezo-Composite Actuator) application for actuation of a flapping wing device. The flapping device uses linkage system that can amplify the actuation displacement of LIPCA. The feathering mechanism is also designed and implemented such that the wing can rotate during flapping. The natural flapping-frequency of the device was about 9 Hz, where the maximum flapping angle was achieved. The flapping test under 4 Hz to 15 Hz flapping frequency was performed to investigate the flapping performance by measuring the produced lift and thrust. Maximum lift and thrust were produced when the flapping device was actuated at about the natural flapping-frequency.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.719-722
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• 2005

In this paper, we present out recent progress in the LIPCA (Lightweight Piezo-Composite Actuator) application for actuation of a flapping wing device. The flapping device uses linkage system that can amplify the actuation displacement of LIPCA. The feathering mechanism is also designed and implemented such that the wing can rotate during flapping. The natural flapping-frequency of the device was about 9 Hz, where the maximum flapping angle was achieved. The flapping test under 5 Hz to 15 Hz flapping frequency was performed to investigate the flapping performance by measuring the produced lift and thrust. Maximum lift and thrust were produced when the flapping device was actuated at about the natural flapping-frequency.

• International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sciences
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.167-174
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• 2016

Even though the differential drag type machines of the vertical wind turbines are a bit less efficient than the lift type machines such as Darrieus type machines, they have an advantage of low starting torque. The flapping blade type wind turbine is a specific type of the differential drag machines, and it has no need for orientation as well as quite low starting torque. This work is to develop an innovative 5kW class flapping type vertical wind turbine system which will be applicable to a hybrid power generation system driven by the diesel engine and the wind turbine. The parametric study was carried out to decide an optimum aerodynamic configuration of the wind turbine blade. In order to evaluate the designed blade, the subscale wind tunnel test and the performance test were carried out, and their test results were compared with the analysis results.

• International Journal of Control, Automation, and Systems
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• v.4 no.6
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• pp.748-755
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• 2006

In this paper, a trade-off design and fabrication of IPMC(Ionic Polymer Metal Composites) as an actuator for a flapping device have been described. Experiments for the internal solvent loss of IPMCs have been conducted for various combinations of cation and solvent in order to find out the best combination of cation and solvent for minimal solvent loss and higher actuation force. From the experiments, it was found that IPMCs with heavy water as their solvent could operate longer. Relations between length/thickness and tip force of IPMCs were also quantitatively identified for the actuator design from the tip force measurement of 200, 400, 640, and $800{\mu}m$ thick IPMCs. All IPMCs thicker than $200{\mu}m$ were processed by casting $Nafion^{TM}$ solution. The shorter and thicker IPMCs tended to generate higher actuation force but lower actuation displacement. To improve surface conductivity and to minimize solvent evaporation due to electrically heated electrodes, gold was sputtered on both surfaces of the cast IPMCs by the Physical Vapor Deposition(PVD) process. For amplification of a short IPMC's small actuation displacement to a large flapping motion, a rack-and-pinion type hinge was used in the flapping device. An insect wing was attached to the IPMC flapping mechanism for its flapping test. In this test, the wing flapping device using the $800{\mu}m$ thick IPMC. could create around $10^{\circ}{\sim}85^{\circ}$ flapping angles and $0.5{\sim}15Hz$ flapping frequencies by applying $3{\sim|}4V$.

• International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sciences
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.238-249
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• 2012

Flight test of flapping micro air vehicles (FMAVs) is carried out using an instrumented measurement system to obtain various engineering parameters and hence to assess the flight performance of the vehicles through the data investigation. An indoor flight test facility equipped with a motion capture system and tracking cameras is used for the work presented in this paper. Maneuvers including straight-level flight, ground flapping, takeoff and landing are tested. Spatial position and orientation data are obtained from the retro-reflective tracking markers attached to the vehicles. Subsequent test analysis is carried out by generating performance parameters from raw data and then assessing the flight performance by comparison of the vehicles. The main findings of this work confirm that the test method and procedures presented here enable the systematic numerical data measurement and assessment of the flying performances of these vehicles, and show the applicability for the test and evaluation of general flapping MAVs.

• Journal of KSNVE
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.215-224
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• 1995

In this paper, the three-dimensional finite element model is established to investigate the structural dynamic characteristics of rotor blade using a finite element analysis. Six natural frequencies and mode shapes are calculated by computer simulation. The first three flapping modal frequencies, the first two lead-lag modal frequencies, and the first feathering modal frequency are validated through comparison with the modal test results of the fixed rotor blade. The computer simulation results are found in good agreement with experimentally measured natural frequencies. The important results are obtained as follows: (1) Natural frequencies are changed due to the variation of rotational speed and fiber angle of rotor blade, (2) Weak coupling between flapping mode shape and lead-lag mode shape are detected, (3) Centrifugal force has more effect on flapping modal frequency than lead-lag modal frequency.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.76-80
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• 2012

This paper demonstrates how to implement inherent pitching stability in an insect-mimicking flapping-wing system for vertical takeoff. Design and fabrication of the insect-mimicking flapping-wing system is briefly described focusing on the recent modification. Force produced by the flapping-wing systems is estimated using the UBET (Unsteady Blade Element Theory) developed in the previous work. The estimation shows that the wing twist placed in the modified system can improve thrust production for about 10 %. The estimated thrust is compared with the measured thrust, which proves that the UBET provides fairly good estimations for the thrust produced by the flapping-wing systems. The vertical takeoff test shows that inherent pitching stability can be implemented in an insect-mimicking flapping-wing system by aligning the aerodynamic force center and center of gravity.

• International Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.26-30
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• 2016

Experimental study on the unsteady aerodynamics analysis and power consumption of a folding wing is accomplished using a wind tunnel testing. A folding wing model is fabricated and actuated using servo motors. The flapping wing consists of an inboard main wing and an outboard folding wing. The aerodynamic forces and consumed powers of the flapping wing are measured by changing the flapping and folding wings inside a low-speed wind tunnel. In order to calculate the aerodynamic forces, the measured forces are modified using static test data. It was found that the effect of the folding wing on the flapping wing's total lift is small but the effect of the folding wing on the total thrust is larger than the main wing. The folding motion requires the extra use of the servo motor. Thus, the amount of the energy consumption increases when both the wings are actuated together. As the flight speed increases, the power consumption of the folding wing decreases which results in energy saving.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.43 no.10
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• pp.888-895
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• 2015

This paper shows an approximate equation which calculates a flapping angle of blade for verification of KUH safety area. The flapping behavior of blade must be reviewed in an aspect of safety because of a collision possibility with airframe. However, it is difficult to measure an exact flapping angle during flight. A prediction equation of a coning angle is derived from aeromechanics and that of a dynamic flapping angle is derived from analysis results in development phase, respectively. Following, the equations are verified by comparison the flapping angle through an aircraft simulation test to a calculation. Finally, the safety area, which was established in development phase, is verified by calculating a flapping angle during the flight which is required by the terms of safety based on AC29 and FAR29.

• Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.44-49
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• 2020

This work is intended to develop a flapping-type vertical wind turbine system that will be applicable to diesel generators and wind turbine generator hybrid systems. In the aerodynamic design of the wind turbine blade, parametric studies were performed to determine an optimum aerodynamic configuration. After the aerodynamic design, the structural design of the blade was performed. The major structural components of the flapping-type wind turbine are the flapping blade, the connecting part, and the stopper. The primary focus of this work is the design and analysis of the connecting part. Structural tests were performed to evaluate the blade design, and the test results were compared with the results of the analysis.