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| Format: | Preprint |
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2024
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://arxiv.org/abs/2410.19240 |
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| _version_ | 1866909364748550144 |
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| author | Nelson, C. Luke Nations, Grant Drew, Daniel S. |
| author_facet | Nelson, C. Luke Nations, Grant Drew, Daniel S. |
| contents | Electroaerodynamic propulsion, where force is produced via the momentum-transferring collisions between accelerated ions and neutral air molecules, is a promising alternative mechanism for flight at the micro air vehicle scale due to its silent and solid-state nature. Its relatively low efficiency, however, has thus far precluded its use in a power-autonomous vehicle; leveraging the efficiency benefits of operation close to a fixed surface is a potential solution. While proximity effects like the ground and ceiling effects have been well-investigated for rotorcraft and flapping wing micro air vehicles, they have not been for electroaerodynamically-propelled fliers. In this work, we investigate the change in performance when centimeter-scale thrusters are operated close to a "ceiling" plane about the inlet. We show a surprising and, until now, unreported effect; a major electrostatic attractive component, analogous to electroadhesive pressure but instead mediated by a stable atmospheric plasma. The isolated electrostatic and fluid dynamic components of the ceiling effect are shown for different distances from the plane and for different materials. We further show that a flange attached to the inlet can vastly increase both components of force. A peak efficiency improvement of 600% is shown close to the ceiling. This work points the way towards effective use of the ceiling effect for power autonomous vehicles, extending flight duration, or as a perching mechanism. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2410_19240 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2024 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Empirical Study of Ceiling Proximity Effects and Electrostatic Adhesion for Small-scale Electroaerodynamic Thrusters Nelson, C. Luke Nations, Grant Drew, Daniel S. Robotics Electroaerodynamic propulsion, where force is produced via the momentum-transferring collisions between accelerated ions and neutral air molecules, is a promising alternative mechanism for flight at the micro air vehicle scale due to its silent and solid-state nature. Its relatively low efficiency, however, has thus far precluded its use in a power-autonomous vehicle; leveraging the efficiency benefits of operation close to a fixed surface is a potential solution. While proximity effects like the ground and ceiling effects have been well-investigated for rotorcraft and flapping wing micro air vehicles, they have not been for electroaerodynamically-propelled fliers. In this work, we investigate the change in performance when centimeter-scale thrusters are operated close to a "ceiling" plane about the inlet. We show a surprising and, until now, unreported effect; a major electrostatic attractive component, analogous to electroadhesive pressure but instead mediated by a stable atmospheric plasma. The isolated electrostatic and fluid dynamic components of the ceiling effect are shown for different distances from the plane and for different materials. We further show that a flange attached to the inlet can vastly increase both components of force. A peak efficiency improvement of 600% is shown close to the ceiling. This work points the way towards effective use of the ceiling effect for power autonomous vehicles, extending flight duration, or as a perching mechanism. |
| title | Empirical Study of Ceiling Proximity Effects and Electrostatic Adhesion for Small-scale Electroaerodynamic Thrusters |
| topic | Robotics |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2410.19240 |