Phase II Final Report - NASA's Institute for Advanced Concepts

List of Figures
List of Figures
Figure 1-1: Conventional Airfoil and Insect Wing Lift-Generation Mechanisms ...................... 2
Figure 1-2: Flapping Insect Wing Leading Edge Vortex Formation ........................................... 3
Figure 1-3: Insect Wing Lift-generation ...................................................................................... 4
Figure 1-4: Mini-Sniffer High Altitude Aircraft ......................................................................... 6
Figure 1-5: Solar-Powered Mars Aircraft .................................................................................... 6
Figure 1-6: JPL “Kitty Hawk” Glider .......................................................................................... 7
Figure 1-7: Ames “MAGE” Aircraft ........................................................................................... 7
Figure 1-8: Generations of the Reciprocating Chemical Muscle Actuator and the Biologically-inspired
Wing that it Drives for Applications on Earth and Mars ........................... 8
Figure 1-9: Stereolithographic Kinematically-correct Model of the Terrestrial Entomopter ... 12
Figure 1-10: Animation of Entomopter Mission (Take off, Flight, Sample Gathering, and Return
to the Lander) ...................................................................................................... 15
Figure 1-11: Mission Flight Profile for Multiple Entomopters in Conjunction with a Rover ... 16
Figure 1-12: High Resolution Image of Mars Surface Taken by Pathfinder Lander ................ 17
Figure 1-13: Example of a Wide-Angle Context Camera-type Image ...................................... 18
Figure 1-14: Magnetic Field Shape on Earth and Mars ............................................................. 19
Figure 1-15: Radar Sounding for Investigating Surface and Subsurface Features .................... 21
Figure 1-16: Atmospheric Sampling and Data Collection Over Grid ....................................... 22
Figure 1-17: Artist’s Concept of the Entomopter Taking a Surface Sample ............................. 23
Figure 2-1: Entomopter-based Mars Flyer Configuration ......................................................... 25
Figure 2-2: ABS Plastic Wing Ribs from Fused Deposition Modeling Machine ..................... 26
Figure 2-3: Lift Vectors on the Upthrust and Down Thrust Wing Halves ................................ 27
Figure 2-4: Integral Propulsion-ultrasonic Obstacle Avoidance and Altimetry System ........... 28
Figure 2-5: Baseline Mission ..................................................................................................... 30
Figure 2-6: Image of Mars Atmosphere Taken From Pathfinder Lander .................................. 31
Figure 2-7: Orbital Image of Surface Features on Mars ............................................................ 32
Figure 2-8: Image of Mars Surface from Pathfinder Lander ..................................................... 32
Figure 2-9: Daily Pressure Variation (Pathfinder Data) ............................................................ 35
Figure 2-10: Pressure Variation Over a One-month Period (Pathfinder Data) ......................... 35
Figure 2-11: Atmospheric Temperature Variation Throughout a Day (Pathfinder Data) ......... 36
Figure 2-12: Wind Direction Throughout the Day (Pathfinder Data) ....................................... 37
Figure 2-13: Measurements Taken During a Dust Devil (Pathfinder Data) .............................. 38
Figure 3-1: Parameters for Power Consumption Optimization ................................................. 41
Figure 3-2: Mass and Corresponding Force Distribution Along Wing Section ........................ 42
Figure 3-3: Acceleration Force Diagram ................................................................................... 43
Figure 3-4: Wing Motion and Energy Usage, Velocity and Acceleration Profiles ................... 43
Figure 3-5: Examples of the Effect of Wing Length, Flapping Rate and Flap Angle on the Work
Performed by the Engine .................................................................................... 44
Figure 3-6: Resultant Force and Velocity for the Flapping Wing ............................................. 45
Figure 3-7: Lift Distribution for Various Operational Conditions ............................................ 46
Figure 3-8: Total Wing Mass as a Function of Wing Length .................................................... 48
Figure 3-9: Entomopter Landing Approach .............................................................................. 50
Figure 3-10: Forces Acting on a Given Point Along the Way .................................................. 51
Figure 3-11: Wing Motion Represented by Angle Change with Time ..................................... 52
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