Ornithopters?

Question

Just out of curiosity, given all the high-ouput motors, advanced materials, etc, is it actually possible to build a functioning ornithopter (flapping-wing aircraft)? I know we tried back before the Wright brothers, but is it possible now?

Answer 1

I think yes, and it has more to do with very fast and lightweight computers. Also, modern high-strength materials providing the ability to construct very lightweight but super-strong wing structures and lightweight, powerful motors is key.

I expect that the ornithopter's flapping wing motion requires a complex sequence of real-time control commands, with very fast feedback and adjustment requirements. All of this, far too much for any human to manage real-time without a computer.

Computing power also is a factor in design and development: accurate computer modelling of the behavior of the ornithopter can potentially radically reduce design and development time, and the costs associated with prototype construction and testing.

So, with fast computers and the right software available for design, development, testing, and real-time flight control, and yes also advanced materials and manufacturing methods, I think this is doable.

The ability to scale to a large enough size to support the weight of a human is another concern. Can we fly, using the best strength-to-weight ratio materials available for the vehicle, and best power-to-weight ratio materials for the engine(s)?

It's worth pointing out that the pterosaurs (flying reptiles) ranged in size from that of a sparrow to that of an airplane. If we can achieve the lift and thrust to weight ratios that the largest pterosaurs had, then it reverts to a question of efficient, accurate wing and vehicle motion. And so, mainly a matter of proper design, testing, and real-time flight control.

Economical feasibility is altogether another question. I expect this would mainly be for fun or show, and not because it's more efficient or cheaper to develop, build, own and operate than fixed wing flight, or because of any inherent safety advantage.

Answer 2

Personally I think the forces on the wings would be to great for one capable of lifting a man. Glen may well be right about the control mechanism but that is not the real problem, as with many problem in Engineering it is a question of scale. I remember as a child I had a toy Ornithopter and very delicate it was. The problem is twofold, relative strength to weight ratio for a craft of sufficient size to carry a ham and secondly the acceleration of components may also be problematic when scaled up.

If you think about it there seems to be a limit to the size of birds so...

Answer 3

People have built flapping wing robotic vehicles, but they're generally not much bigger than about 1 ft across.

The issue is still the relative strength of materials versus the weight of a large aircraft.