A flying insect-like flapper actuated by a compressed LIPCA

- Based on general features of flying insects such as wing rotation, wing corrugation and wing clap-fling, we have introduced an insect-mimicking flapper actuated by a compressed unimorph actuator named LIPCA (lightweight piezoelectric composite actuator). The flapping performance of the flapper has been experimentally investigated in terms of flapping angle, flapping frequency and capability of aerodynamic force generation. The flapping angle and wing rotation angle were figured out by examining high-speed camera image by image. The aerodynamic force was calculated by subtracting the inertia force measured in a vacuum chamber from the total force measured in the air. The results confirm that the flapper could successfully produce aerodynamic force when it was operated at the best flapping frequency of 9 Hz and applied voltage of 300 V_pp (voltage peak-to-peak).