A Novel Degree of Freedom in Flapping Wings Shows Promise for a Dual Aerial/Aquatic Vehicle Propulsor

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel flapping wing actuation system with an active in-line motion degree of freedom, enabling efficient propulsion in both air and water for dual aerial/aquatic vehicles, inspired by animal locomotion.

Contribution

It presents a new flapping wing design with an active in-line degree of freedom, demonstrating potential for versatile dual-medium propulsion.

Findings

Design achieves large force envelope in air and water

Preliminary realization shows feasibility of dual-medium actuation

Inspired by animal locomotion, enabling versatile vehicle platforms

Abstract

Ocean sampling for highly temporal phenomena, such as harmful algal blooms, necessitates a vehicle capable of fast aerial travel interspersed with an aquatic means of acquiring in-situ measurements. Vehicle platforms with this capability have yet to be widely adopted by the oceanographic community. Several animal examples successfully make this aerial/aquatic transition using a flapping foil actuator, offering an existence proof for a viable vehicle design. We discuss a preliminary realization of a flapping wing actuation system for use in both air and water. The wing employs an active in-line motion degree of freedom to generate the large force envelope necessary for propulsion in both fluid media.