Deterministic Global Optimization of Flapping Wing Motion for Micro Air Vehicles

The kinematics of a flapping plate is optimized by combining the unsteady vortex lattice method with a deterministic global optimization algorithm. The design parameters are the amplitudes, the mean values, the frequencies, and the phase angles of the flapping motion. The results suggest that imposing a delay between the different oscillatory motions and controlling the way through which the wing rotates at the end of each half stroke would enhance the lift generation. The use of a general unsteady numerical aerodynamic model (UVLM) and the implementation of a deterministic global optimization algorithm provide guidance and a baseline for future efforts to identify optimal stroke trajectories for micro air vehicles with higher fidelity models.