新科学想法 › 文献管理 › 浏览文献

A wing-assisted running robot and implications for avian flight evolution

Toni之路添加于 2014-11-1 19:09 | 1508 次阅读 | 0 个评论

作者
Peterson K, Birkmeyer P, Dudley R, Fearing RS
摘要
DASH+Wings is a small hexapedal winged robot that uses flapping wings to increase its locomotion capabilities. To examine the effects of flapping wings, multiple experimental controls for the same locomotor platform are provided by wing removal, by the use of inertially similar lateral spars, and by passive rather than actively flapping wings. We used accelerometers and high-speed cameras to measure the performance of this hybrid robot in both horizontal running and while ascending inclines. To examine consequences of wing flapping for aerial performance, we measured lift and drag forces on the robot at constant airspeeds and body orientations in a wind tunnel; we also determined equilibrium glide performance in free flight. The addition of flapping wings increased the maximum horizontal running speed from 0.68 to 1.29 m s−1, and also increased the maximum incline angle of ascent from 5.6° to 16.9°. Free flight measurements show a decrease of 10.3° in equilibrium glide slope between the flapping and gliding robot. In air, flapping improved the mean lift:drag ratio of the robot compared to gliding at all measured body orientations and airspeeds. Low-amplitude wing flapping thus provides advantages in both cursorial and aerial locomotion. We note that current support for the diverse theories of avian flight origins derive from limited fossil evidence, the adult behavior of extant flying birds, and developmental stages of already volant taxa. By contrast, addition of wings to a cursorial robot allows direct evaluation of the consequences of wing flapping for locomotor performance in both running and flying.
详细资料
- 文献种类:期刊
- 期刊名称: Bioinspiration & Biomimetics
- 期刊缩写: Bioinspir. Biomim.
- 期卷页: 2011年第6卷第4期 046008页
- ISBN: 1748-3182
相关链接 DOI URL
附件
A wing-assisted running robot and implications for avian flight evolution