Discussion of “A Review of Propulsion, Power, and Control Architectures for Insect-Scale Flapping Wing Vehicles” by E. F. Helbling and R. J. Wood (Helbling, E. F., and Wood, R. J., 2018, ASME Appl. Mech. Rev., 70(1), p. 010801)

2018 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Satyandra K. Gupta
Keyword(s):  
Flapping Wing ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Flying Insects ◽  
Power And Control ◽  
Significant Interest ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
And Control ◽  
Propulsion Power ◽  
Remarkable Progress

Flying insects exhibit truly remarkable capabilities. There has been significant interest in developing small-scale flying robots by taking inspiration from flying insects. The paper by Helbling and Wood reports remarkable progress made by the research community in realizing insect-scale flapping wing vehicles and identifies research challenges and opportunities. This discussion builds upon their paper and examines the potential of insect-scale flapping wing flight from an application point of view. It summarizes requirements and mention implications of these requirements on propulsion, power, and control architecture.

scholarly journals A Review of Propulsion, Power, and Control Architectures for Insect-Scale Flapping-Wing Vehicles

2018 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Farrell Helbling ◽  
Robert J. Wood
Keyword(s):  
Integrated Circuit ◽  
Micro Air Vehicles ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Flapping Wing ◽  
High Energy Density ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Flying Insects ◽  
Power And Control ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
And Control

Flying insects are able to navigate complex and highly dynamic environments, can rapidly change their flight speeds and directions, are robust to environmental disturbances, and are capable of long migratory flights. However, flying robots at similar scales have not yet demonstrated these characteristics autonomously. Recent advances in mesoscale manufacturing, novel actuation, control, and custom integrated circuit (IC) design have enabled the design of insect-scale flapping wing micro air vehicles (MAVs). However, there remain numerous constraints to component technologies—for example, scalable high-energy density power storage—that limit their functionality. This paper highlights the recent developments in the design of small-scale flapping wing MAVs, specifically discussing the various power and actuation technologies selected at various vehicle scales as well as the control architecture and avionics onboard the vehicle. We also outline the challenges associated with creating an integrated insect-scale flapping wing MAV.

scholarly journals Invisible pedagogies in home education: Freedom, power and control

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-27
Author(s):  
Amber Joy Fensham-Smith
Keyword(s):  
Social Values ◽  
Home Schooling ◽  
Home Education ◽  
Children And Young People ◽  
Power And Control ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Pedagogic Practices ◽  
The Uk ◽  
And Control ◽  
Socially Situated

Abstract Home-schooling, or ‘elective home education’ (EHE) as it is more commonly known in the UK, invites contestation and controversies. Drawing on a UK-wide study of 242 families this paper explores a collection of EHE pedagogic practices within the socially situated contexts of doing everyday life. Through an application of Bernsteinian ideas, the findings surface some of the ways in which invisible pedagogies afforded children greater autonomy over the sequence and pace over their learning. It also considers how community development has helped some parents to harness the forms of capital which extend and remake new structures to strengthen the transmission of their social values. Contrary to the messages of EHE advocates, it shows that approaches inspired by unschooling are not devoid of power and control altogether. In considering the experiences of children and young people, the findings highlight the relative challenges and opportunities of transitioning from invisible pedagogies to formal qualifications in a context where access to public examinations can be difficult to achieve. Considering the tensions that these pedagogies reveal in the socialisation towards individualism, the author suggests solutions for questioning, challenging and bridging divides.

Issues and Challenges (Privacy, Security, and Trust) in Blockchain-Based Applications

2021 ◽  
pp. 196-209
Author(s):  
Siddharth M. Nair ◽  
Varsha Ramesh ◽  
Amit Kumar Tyagi
Keyword(s):  
Internet Of Things ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Security And Privacy ◽  
Future Trends ◽  
Security Issue ◽  
Blockchain Technology ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
And Control ◽  
Near Future

The major issues and challenges in blockchain over internet of things are security, privacy, and usability. Confidentiality, authentication, and control are the challenges faced in security issue. Hence, this chapter will discuss the challenges and opportunities from the prospective of security and privacy of data in blockchain (with respect to security and privacy community point of view). Furthermore, the authors will provide some future trends that blockchain technology may adapt in the near future (in brief).

scholarly journals Hawkmoths use wingstroke-to-wingstroke frequency modulation for aerial recovery to vortex ring perturbations

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeff Gau ◽  
Ryan Gemilere ◽  
James Lynch ◽  
Nick Gravish ◽  
Simon Sponberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Frequency Modulation ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Insect Flight ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Flapping Wing ◽  
Wingbeat Frequency ◽  
Mechanical Constraints ◽  
Power And Control ◽  
Long Time ◽  
And Control

AbstractCentimeter-scale fliers that combine wings with springy elements must contend with the high power requirements and mechanical constraints of flapping wing flight. Insects utilize elastic energy exchange to reduce the inertial costs of flapping wing flight and potentially match wingbeat frequencies to a mechanical resonance. Flying at resonance may be energetically favorable under steady conditions, but it is difficult to modulate the frequency of a resonant system. Evidence suggests that insects utilize frequency modulation over long time scales to adjust aerodynamic forces, but it remains an open question the extent to which insects can modulate frequency on the wingstroke-to-wingstroke timescale. If wingbeat frequencies deviate from resonance, the musculature must work against the elastic flight system, thereby potentially increasing energetic costs. To assess how insects address the simultaneous needs for power and control, we tested the capacity for wingstroke-to-wingstroke wingbeat frequency modulation by perturbing free hovering Manduca sexta with vortex rings while recording high-speed video at 2000 fps. Because hawkmoth flight muscles are synchronous, there is at least the potential for the nervous system to modulate frequency on each wingstroke. We observed ± 16% wingbeat frequency modulation in just a few wing strokes. Via instantaneous phase analysis of wing kinematics, we found that over 85% of perturbation responses required active changes in motor input frequency. Unlike their robotic counterparts that explicitly abdicate frequency modulation in favor of energy efficiency, we find that wingstroke-to-wingstroke frequency modulation is an underappreciated control strategies that complements other strategies for maneuverability and stability in insect flight.

scholarly journals Traversing State, Agribusinesses, and Farmers’ Land Discourse in Kenyan Commercial Intensive Agriculture

2021 ◽  
pp. 181-197
Author(s):  
Peter Narh
Keyword(s):  
Land Reform ◽  
Intensive Agriculture ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Sugarcane Production ◽  
High Productivity ◽  
Power And Control ◽  
Lack Of Control ◽  
External Sources ◽  
Small Scale Farmers ◽  
And Control

AbstractFrom a qualitative study of sugarcane production in Chemelil(western Kenya) and insights drawn from the Kenyan land reform enacted in 2012, this study contends that the goal of land reform to provide farmers with certainty of rights to land to invest in and benefit from agriculture is heavily weakened by the farmers’ lack of control over agricultural inputs. Land reform and intensive agriculture, such as sugarcane production, share the same market-based land discourse, where land is considered an environmental asset to be harnessed efficiently for high productivity. Although this discourse supports the application of high inputs for maximum agricultural outputs, it has also eroded farmers’ power and control over their lands. This loss of power and control occurs through the supply of high-cost agricultural inputs from external sources, such as state research agencies and the Chemelil Sugar Company. The control of inputs by sources external to farmers stifles possible farm-based innovations that could reduce farming costs. The chapter, thus, contends that, although land reform aims at farmers’ utmost benefit from land, the farmer’s lack of control over agricultural inputs limits the benefits they derive from land use for intensive agriculture; this is especially true in the case of small-scale farmers.

scholarly journals Re-Examine Conventional Concepts in Urban Design: The Conflict Between Urban Space Utilization and the Elements of Power and Control - Case of Hawkers within Amman, Jordan

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Dania Abdel-Aziz ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Urban Planning ◽  
Urban Space ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Local Authorities ◽  
Street Vendors ◽  
Effective Utilization ◽  
Power And Control ◽  
Planning Processes ◽  
Space Requirements ◽  
And Control

Architecture and urbanism are disciplines based on knowledge of space. From this point of view, this research aims to study the challenges of dealing with hawkers (Street Vendors) in Jordan's urban centres generally by shedding light on downtown Amman. Although they succeed in acquiring and controlling space informally in Amman, hawkers have been ignored by local planners and even been harassed by local authorities for not being given space to operate their businesses. Rigid transformations should be carried in urban planning strategies in downtown Amman. Local policies need to be enforced to end this conflict and provide suitable conditions and capacities to read and respond to the hawkers' needs. They represent an integral part of the region's urban fabric. This study is based on reviewing related literature, field survey, and observations carried out for two months in the study area. In addition to several informal discussions held with the hawkers, pedestrians, merchants, and local authorities, questionnaires were used to clarify specific issues. The study suggests a few recommendations to help fulfil urban centres' effective utilization and harmonize formal activities and the hawkers in order to resolve this conflict. The study found that street hawkers are only considered troublemakers and have never been involved in decision-making when urban planning occurs. These will be an ongoing issue, not unless they are integrated into the planning processes. The study suggests different scenarios for proper allocation of hawking space can be done regarding accommodating them according to their space requirements worked out the basis of the products sold, as has been done in the present study. In short, this will help in providing suitable trading environments for the hawkers, creating a pedestrian-friendly neighbourhood, decreasing the unemployment rate, among other advantages.

scholarly journals Biomechanics and biomimetics in insect-inspired flight systems

2016 ◽  
Vol 371 (1704) ◽  
pp. 20150390 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hao Liu ◽  
Sridhar Ravi ◽  
Dmitry Kolomenskiy ◽  
Hiroto Tanaka
Keyword(s):  
Aerodynamic Force ◽  
Force Production ◽  
Micro Air Vehicles ◽  
Research Area ◽  
Integrated System ◽  
Flying Insects ◽  
Power And Control ◽  
Integrated Research ◽  
Control Flight ◽  
And Control

Insect- and bird-size drones—micro air vehicles (MAV) that can perform autonomous flight in natural and man-made environments are now an active and well-integrated research area. MAVs normally operate at a low speed in a Reynolds number regime of 10 4 –10 5 or lower, in which most flying animals of insects, birds and bats fly, and encounter unconventional challenges in generating sufficient aerodynamic forces to stay airborne and in controlling flight autonomy to achieve complex manoeuvres. Flying insects that power and control flight by flapping wings are capable of sophisticated aerodynamic force production and precise, agile manoeuvring, through an integrated system consisting of wings to generate aerodynamic force, muscles to move the wings and a control system to modulate power output from the muscles. In this article, we give a selective review on the state of the art of biomechanics in bioinspired flight systems in terms of flapping and flexible wing aerodynamics, flight dynamics and stability, passive and active mechanisms in stabilization and control, as well as flapping flight in unsteady environments. We further highlight recent advances in biomimetics of flapping-wing MAVs with a specific focus on insect-inspired wing design and fabrication, as well as sensing systems. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Moving in a moving medium: new perspectives on flight’.

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