Hovering Flight of Ornithopters


 

We aim at clarifying the hovering mechanism of ornithopters by actually creating one and testing on it. Wings of ornithopters deform elastically like living beings. By measuring thrust using a balance and visualizing the circumference of the wings, it is understood that the generating of thrust is relevant to elastic deformation and flow turbulence. Moreover, we experiment the stability of pitch angle of ornithopters by fixing their center of gravity. It is understood that the posture of a ornithopter against pitch angle lasts longer when the center of gravity is far from the aerodynamic center.