Design and control of tensegrity morphing airfoils

Muhao Chen, Jiacheng Liu, Robert E. Skelton

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

40 Scopus citations

Abstract

We present a general approach of design, dynamics, and control for tensegrity morphing airfoils. Firstly, based on reduced order Class-k tensegrity dynamics, a shape control law for tensegrity systems is derived. Then, we develop a method for discretizing continuous airfoil curves based on shape accuracy. This method is compared with conventional methods (i.e. evenly spacing and cosine spacing methods). A tensegrity topology for shape controllable airfoil is proposed. A morphing tensegrity airfoil example is given to demonstrate successful shape control. This work paves a road towards integrating structure and control design, the principles developed here can also be used for 3D morphing airfoil design and control of various kinds of tensegrity structures.

Original languageEnglish
Article number103480
JournalMechanics Research Communications
Volume103
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2020

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020

Keywords

  • Integrating structure and control design
  • Morphing airfoil
  • Nonlinear control
  • Nonlinear dynamics
  • Tensegrity structures

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Civil and Structural Engineering
  • General Materials Science
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Mechanics of Materials
  • Mechanical Engineering

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