Session: MR-01-02 Mechanisms Synthesis & Analysis

Paper Number: 69202

Start Time: August 18, 10:00 AM

69202 - A Pareto Front Mechanism Optimization for Controlling an Aircraft Using a Bio-Inspired Rotating Empennage 

This paper presents a mechanism design optimization for actuating the horizontal stabilizers of an aircraft using a rotating empennage without a vertical stabilizer. Birds do not have vertical stabilizers and rotate their tail feathers to control agile maneuvers. The rotating empennage concept will mimic this motion and enable the bio-inspired flight of a fixed wing aircraft. To maintain control, the bio-inspired rotating empennage (BIRE) will incorporate three degrees of freedom: independent rotation of each horizontal stabilizer and rotation of the empennage relative to the main axis of the fuselage. The primary benefits of an aircraft without a vertical stabilizaer is reduced drag and weight, which in turn results in more efficient operation.

In order to reduce inertia of the rotating empennage, the linear actuators that position the horizontal stabilizers will be placed within the fuselage. Mechanisms that couple the linear translation of the actuators with the rotation of the horizontal stabilizers ideally require a low peak force and short stroke from the actuator. With two conflicting objectives, a Pareto front optimization was conducted to determine appropriate link lengths of candidate solutions and understand the effectiveness of alternate mechanisms. The study considers a rack & pinon, scotch-yoke, slider-crank, inverted slider-crank, Watt, and Stephenson mechanisms.

Presenting Author: David Myszka Univ Of Dayton

Authors:

David H. Myszka University Of Dayton
James J. Joo Air Force Research Laboratories
Andrew P. Murray University of Dayton