Articles tagged with Aerodynamics
A study published in The Journal of Experimental Biology found that flying fish can glide better than insects and as well as birds like petrels. The research revealed that the fish's lift-to-drag ratio increased when gliding near the surface, allowing them to cover longer distances.
A team of Japanese researchers successfully built an ornithopter, a replica model of a swallowtail butterfly, to demonstrate its ability to fly with simple flapping motions. The study's findings suggest that flight can be achieved without feedback control, opening up possibilities for future aerodynamic systems.
The MAION, a 30-cm, fixed-wing micro air vehicle with counter-rotating propellers, can make smooth transitions between hover and fast forward flight. This design has potential for both military and civil applications.
Scientists have cracked the code of insect flight, revealing complex wing designs that defy conventional aerodynamics. By studying locusts and developing a computer model, researchers gained insights into wing deformation and its impact on flight efficiency.
Researchers at North Carolina State University are developing robotic bats that mimic nature's small flyers for increased maneuverability and performance. The 'robo-bat' uses smart materials, including shape-memory metal alloys and heat-activated muscle wires, to achieve efficient flapping motion.
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics will present five awards at the 39th AIAA Fluid Dynamics Conference, recognizing outstanding contributions to various fields such as aerodynamics, fluid dynamics, plasmadynamics, thermophysics, and aerospace engineering. The honorees include Jubaraj Sahu, Parvis Moin, Charles Clend...
Researchers have discovered that maple seeds generate lift by creating a vortex, similar to insects and animals, which allows them to be carried aloft by the wind. The study suggests that plants and animals have converged on this aerodynamic solution for improving flight performance.
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) will present several awards at a banquet recognizing significant contributions to parachute and balloon technology. Charles H. Lowry and Loren Seely are among the recipients of the Knacke and Winzen Lifetime Achievement Awards, respectively.
The AIAA Journal of Energy was commended by the Space Foundation for its role in disseminating NASA's aerodynamic vehicle design technology, which reduced drag and increased fuel efficiency. The journal's publication played a key role in widely adopting the technology in the trucking industry.
A mechanical engineer at Washington University in St. Louis has developed techniques to reduce vehicle drag using active flow control technology, resulting in a 15-18% reduction in fuel consumption. The technology is being researched by airplane and automobile companies worldwide to play an important role in fuel conservation.
Researchers at MIT have developed a new theory to predict where aerodynamic separation will occur, which could impact fuel efficiency and more. The study extends existing knowledge from 1904 by addressing unsteady three-dimensional flows.
A new study of extinct reptiles called kuehneosaurs shows that these early flyers used extraordinary extensions of their ribs to form large gliding surfaces on the side of the body. The research, published in Palaeontology, found that one species was more suited to parachuting than flying.
Researchers find that wing shape and flapping motion are crucial for efficient flight, contradicting the assumption that nature is always efficient. Dr. Jim Usherwood's study suggests that mimicking nature's designs can lead to flawed results, highlighting the importance of understanding aerodynamics in biomimetics.
Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology are developing fuel-saving technologies that could improve fuel efficiency by 8-12 percent in heavy trucks. These active flow control techniques, combined with conventional aerodynamic streamlining, have the potential to save between 1.6 and 2.4 billion gallons of fuel per year.
The L'Oreal USA Fellowships recognize women scientists conducting innovative research across various disciplines, including neuroscience, oceanography, and aerospace engineering. The recipients will receive $40,000 for independent scientific research and participate in professional development workshops.
Researchers discovered that bats can generate a leading-edge vortex, increasing lift by up to 40%, allowing them to hover in mid-air. This finding challenges quasi-steady state aerodynamic theory and has implications for the design of slow-flying surveillance planes.
Researchers aim to create flapping-wing aircraft that can hover and perch, like birds and bats, which outperform man-made planes in efficiency. By studying the aerodynamics of natural flyers, engineers hope to develop vehicles capable of performing missions in uncertain environments.
Researchers found that bat flight is distinct from bird flight, particularly at small scales, due to its collapsible membrane and twisting wing path, generating different wakes and lift during the upstroke.
Researchers have made the first measurements of bat wake fields, revealing a novel lift-generating mechanism. Bat wings are highly articulated and flexible, allowing for greater maneuverability than birds and insects. The findings could lead to the development of more efficient tiny flying machines.
Z. Jane Wang's research uses dragonflies as a model to study efficient flight, challenging conventional wisdom that airplanes are more efficient than birds. The study suggests that using aerodynamic drag can be beneficial for certain types of flight, and may inspire the development of flapping machines.
Researchers from Oregon State University and colleagues used digital particle imaging velocimetry to analyze the wing movement of hummingbirds. The study found that hummingbirds support 75% of their weight during the down stroke and 25% on the up stroke, unlike insects which produce equal amounts of lift during both strokes.
Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology have developed aerodynamic improvements and flow control techniques that can reduce fuel consumption in heavy trucks by as much as 11-12 percent. The technologies, inspired by systems originally developed for jet aircraft wings, also enhance braking and directional control, potentially imp...
Researchers found that humpback whale flippers with tubercles exhibit nearly 8% better lift properties and 32% lower drag than sleek flipper designs. The study's findings have implications for improving airplane wing aerodynamics and reducing fuel consumption during flight.
Jake Socha's research on the Chrysopelea paradisi reveals that the snake glides by undulating its body, changing amplitude and frequency while airborne. The study provides new insights into the aerodynamics of these 'flying' snakes, which can glide up to 70 feet across.
Michael H. Dickinson, a UC Berkeley professor, has been awarded the prestigious MacArthur Fellowship for his groundbreaking research on insect flight. His work has led to breakthroughs in understanding how insects fly and maneuver, with potential applications in search and rescue, environmental monitoring, and remote sensing.
Researchers at Georgia Tech have applied aerodynamic concepts from aircraft to tractor-trailers, reducing drag by up to 50% and improving directional control, traction, and braking. The Circulation Control system uses compressed air to create lift and reduce rolling resistance, with potential fuel savings of up to 12%.
Researchers at Purdue University are creating plastic and mathematical models to analyze the aerodynamic sound of human speech. They aim to predict the consequences of surgery on the throat and develop a method to better synthesize and characterize voices for robotics and voice-recognition purposes.