Abstract
Birds’ feathers are equipped with hook-like structures called friction barbules, which prevent separation and rubbing between feathers under nominal flow conditions. This paper presents a segmented wing prototype that uses controllable dry adhesives to mimic the function of friction barbules. The adhesives latch wing segments together during moderate flight conditions and allow them to separate in extreme conditions. We present the characteristics of adhesive patches and their performance as they are incorporated into a flexible wing prototype. The attachment force is a function of the applied shear stress. We then present results of a wind tunnel test to evaluate the aerodynamic effect of gaps formed as wing segments unlatch and separate. The separation of wing segments delays stall and reduces overall drag, which could improve the ability of an unmanned air vehicle to fly in gusty conditions.
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Wissa, A., Han, A.K., Cutkosky, M.R. (2015). Wings of a Feather Stick Together: Morphing Wings with Barbule-Inspired Latching. In: Wilson, S., Verschure, P., Mura, A., Prescott, T. (eds) Biomimetic and Biohybrid Systems. Living Machines 2015. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 9222. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-22979-9_13
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-22979-9_13
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