Date of Award

2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Committee Chair

Chang-kwon Kang

Committee Member

Farbod Fahimi

Committee Member

Ryan Conners

Research Advisor

Chang-kwon Kang

Subject(s)

Micro air vehicles--Wings--Aerodynamics, Synchronization, Analytic mechanics

Abstract

Enhancing the performance of flapping wing micro air vehicles hinges upon a thorough comprehension of the intricate interplay between wing kinematics and resulting forces. This understanding necessitates a method of synchronization capable of establishing a precise correlation of wing motion and force generation. The objective of this project is to develop a time-based synchronization method using existing hardware in the ATOM lab. Algorithms were developed to control the Vicon motion-tracking system and the ATI force sensor to achieve the synchronization of acquired data. Experimental testing was conducted to validate the algorithms and system architecture. Results from testing revealed a time lag delay, equivalent to the acquisition time of the force transducer between the two measurements. This delay indicates that synchronization was not achieved. Further investigations suggest that the operating system and the data acquisition board were limited in executing resource intensive input/output bound tasks to support synchronization.

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