In vivo recording of aerodynamic force with an aerodynamic force platform
David Lentink, Andreas F. Haselsteiner, Rivers Ingersoll

TL;DR
This paper introduces a novel aerodynamic force platform that enables direct, nonintrusive measurement of aerodynamic forces in freely flying animals and robots, validated through experiments with a quadcopter and a bird.
Contribution
The paper presents a new aerodynamic force platform capable of in vivo force measurement during free flight, filling a critical gap in aerodynamic research methods.
Findings
The AFP accurately measures aerodynamic forces in free flight.
Validation with a quadcopter confirms measurement accuracy.
Application to a bird reveals insights into wing activity during flight.
Abstract
Flapping wings enable flying animals and biomimetic robots to generate elevated aerodynamic forces. Measurements that demonstrate this capability are based on tethered experiments with robots and animals, and indirect force calculations based on measured kinematics or airflow during free flight. Remarkably, there exists no method to measure these forces directly during free flight. Such in vivo recordings in freely behaving animals are essential to better understand the precise aerodynamic function of their flapping wings, in particular during the downstroke versus upstroke. Here we demonstrate a new aerodynamic force platform (AFP) for nonintrusive aerodynamic force measurement in freely flying animals and robots. The platform encloses the animal or object that generates fluid force with a physical control surface, which mechanically integrates the net aerodynamic force that is…
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Taxonomy
TopicsBiomimetic flight and propulsion mechanisms · Aerospace Engineering and Energy Systems · Fish Ecology and Management Studies
