EFRI C3 SoRo: Integration of Avian Flight Control Strategies with Self Adaptive Structures for Stable Flight in Unknown Flows

该项目将为一种新型无人机（UAV）创造飞行控制方法，该无人机具有羽毛状附属物和可变形平台，其设计基于对鸟类在不可预测的环境中滑翔时如何保持稳定性和应对流动干扰的深刻理解。该项目包括3D打印人造羽毛的开发，具有集成的传感和驱动。人造羽毛的主要目的是提供一个被动的控制组件，通过适当的偏转来响应，例如，阵风。一个更大但更慢的主动控制组件是由一个基于鸟翼的铰接支撑结构提供的，其形状可以根据飞行条件和所需的机动而改变。鸟类研究将探索被动羽毛柔韧性和主动机翼形状控制对空气动力学的贡献。由此产生的知识将通过分布式计算和控制转化为无人机。由该项目产生的新一代无人机将增加任务的多功能性和在未知湍流环境中的更大生存能力。这些改进后的能力对于监测火灾、提供救援物资以及完成搜索和救援任务将是有价值的。随着这些平台越来越多地部署在拥挤的城市环境中，在阵风和其他环境干扰下保持稳定的能力也是安全飞行的关键因素。基于风洞实验和与此赠款相关的实地研究的外展计划将用于激励不同群体的年轻人进入STEM项目。该项目的目标包括对具有嵌入式传感和驱动能力的3D打印材料的被动和主动力学建模，用于人造羽毛状部件，并采用新颖的3D打印方法开发具有肘部和腕部型关节的无人机结构，能够实现鸟类飞行控制策略。压电材料将用于羽状元件的传感和精细控制，而液压放大静电驱动将用于变形平台。详细的非线性模拟将用于捕获非线性流固相互作用，包括高度可变形的羽毛元素。将采用基于模型和数据驱动的分层控制策略相结合的方法，将观察到的鸟类飞行行为转化为无人机。实验将捕捉鸟类对流动干扰的反应，包括主动（肌肉动力）和被动（羽毛偏转）翅膀变形，通过羽毛附着的详细测量、羽毛和翅膀的机械特性、神经形态计算和近场流中的偏转测量来增强。柔性机翼试验平台将通过风洞试验在一系列流动条件下进行稳态和非稳态载荷环境下的鸟类试验。该项目由美国国家科学基金会和美国空军科学研究办公室共同资助。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This project will create flight control methods for a new class of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with feather-like appendages and shape-changing planform, designed based on deep understanding of how birds maintain stability and respond to flow disturbances while gliding in unpredictable environments. This project includes the development of 3D printed artificial feathers, with integrated sensing and actuation. The main purpose of the artificial feathers is to provide a passive control component, by appropriately deflecting in response, for example, to a wind gust. A larger but slower active control component is supplied by an articulated support structure based on a bird wing, whose shape can be changed depending on flight conditions and desired maneuvers. Avian studies will explore the aerodynamic contributions of both passive feather flexibility and active wing shape control. The resulting knowledge will be translated to the UAV using distributed computing and control. The new generation of UAVs resulting from this project will have increased mission versatility and greater survivability in unknown turbulent environments. These improved capabilities will be valuable for monitoring fires, delivering rescue supplies, and accomplishing searching and rescue missions. The ability to remain stable despite wind gusts and other environmental disturbances is also a key element for safe flight as these platforms are increasingly deployed in crowded urban environments. Outreach programs based on the wind tunnel experiments and field studies associated with this grant will be used to inspire a diverse group of young people to enter STEM programs.The project goals include modeling of passive and active mechanics of 3D printed materials with embedded sensing and actuation capabilities for artificial feather-like components and employing novel 3D printing methods to develop UAV structures with elbow and wrist-type joints capable of implementing avian flight control strategies. Piezoelectric materials will be used for sensing and fine-scale control of the feather-like elements, while hydraulically amplified electrostatic actuation will be used in the morphing planform. Detailed nonlinear simulations will be used to capture the nonlinear fluid-structure interactions including the highly deformable feather elements. A combination of model-based and data-driven hierarchical control strategies will be used to translate observed avian flight behaviors to the UAV. Experiments will capture avian response to flow disturbances, including active (muscle-powered) and passive (feather deflection) wing morphing, augmented by detailed measurement of feather attachment, mechanical properties of feathers and wings, neuromorphic computing, and deflection measurements in near-field flows. A compliant wing test bed will complement the avian experiments in steady and unsteady loading environments through wind tunnel testing over a range of flow conditions.This project is jointly funded by the National Science Foundation and the US Air Force Office of Scientific Research.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.