Research Projects

Micro-air-vehicle (MAV) design is crucial for various applications, including reconnaissance, border surveillance, geological survey, disaster monitoring, and wildlife surveying. However, current designs lack adequate thrust performance and energy input. Double pitching plates could improve MAV thrust performance by enhancing the overall thrust produced by the plate. Changes in phase differences during pitching motion may also trigger thrust performance and propulsion efficiency. Experimental and numerical studies have not addressed the impact of double pitching plate motion on thrust generation. The proximity of two pitching plates remains unknown, and computational effort is required for numerical simulations. A validated higher-order accurate numerical approach is proposed to address these effects. The optimum choice of pitching frequency and maximum pitching angle would trigger effective thrust performances, reducing energy input for forced pitching motion during flight. This project aims to address key design parameters and explore advanced energy-efficient wings for MAVs.