Design & Natur III

Design & Natur III

Design & Natur III

Flapping wings have been the propulsion system used by birds, insects and fish
for millions of years. Yet, the preferred system for aircraft and ship propulsion is
the propeller or jet engine. It is the objective of this paper to show that recent
interest in the development of micro air vehicles may lead to the adoption of
flapping-wing propulsors as the superior system. Also, it is shown that flapping
hydrofoils may have potential as effective water energy conversion devices. The
knowledge gained in the aerohydromechanics of birds, insects and fish therefore
may soon be applied to the design of air vehicles and power generators.
Keywords: air vehicle design, hydropower generation, flapping-wing aerohydromechanics.

Carlos Brebbin