The first step of the project is to determine how to optimize the wing linkage lengths to maximize the lift generated. Because the wing is generating negative lift during its upstroke, this creates a complex aerodynamics issue that requires thorough simulation to understand. The commonly agreed upon method to reduce negative lift generation is to fold the wings inwards during the upstroke to decrease the effective wing area and aspect ratio (for which coefficient of lift is proportional to) such that the negative lift generation is minimized while unfolding the wing completely during the downstroke in order to generate as much positive lift as possible.
Since this particular robot is powered by a crank-and-rocker mechanism, the movement of the wing tips is periodic but difficult to interpret mathematically despite its closed-loop nature. By exporting kinematic data from the SolidWorks top-level assembly,
we can then use this data to simulate wing tip movement in Ptera Software via the unsteady vortex lattice method to determine the lift coefficient over time.Eventually, by simulating various wing linkage length configurations in Ptera Software, it may be possible to at least find a numerical relationship between certain four-bar geometry configurations and peak positive coefficient of lift.