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A simulation of the flight characteristics of the deployable hindwings of beetle

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Abstract

An insect is an excellent biological object for the bio-inspirations to design and develop a MAV. This paper presents the simulation study of the flight characteristics of the deployable hindwings of beetle, Dorcustitanus platymelus. A 3D geometric model of the beetle was obtained using a 3D laser scanning technique. By studying its hindwings and flight mechanism, the mathematical model of the flapping motion of its hindwings was analyzed. Then a simulation analysis was carried out to analyze and evaluate the flapping flying aerodynamic characteristics. After that, the flow of blood in the hindwing veins was studied through simulation to determine the maximum pressure on a vein surface and the minimum blood flow in flight. A number of interesting bio-inspirations were obtained. It is believed that these findings can be used for the design and development of a M AV with similar flying capabilities to a natural beetle.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering (Ministry of Education), Jilin University, Changchun, 130022, China

    Jiyu Sun, Ruijuan Du, Jin Tong & Donghui Chen

  2. Flight Research Institute, Aviation University of Air Force, Changchun, 130025, China

    Xiaofeng Liu

  3. School of Computing and Technology, Gloucestershire University, Cheltenham, GL50 2HR, UK

    Kamal Bechkoum

Authors
  1. Jiyu Sun
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  2. Ruijuan Du
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  3. Xiaofeng Liu
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  4. Kamal Bechkoum
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  5. Jin Tong
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  6. Donghui Chen
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Correspondence to Donghui Chen.

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Sun, J., Du, R., Liu, X. et al. A simulation of the flight characteristics of the deployable hindwings of beetle. J Bionic Eng 14, 296–306 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1016/S1672-6529(16)60392-X

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1672-6529(16)60392-X

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