Development of Balloon Wings with Airfoil Shape and Achievement of Flapping Flight

Abstract

The objective of this research is to develop a flapping flying robot that can achieve bird-like flight using helium gas-infused airfoil-shaped balloon wings. Wings must have an airfoil shape in order to generate lift by flapping its wings. However, the wing becomes heavy when it has a skeleton to achieve the airfoil shape. In this research, we used aluminum balloons filled with helium gas to create airfoil-shaped balloon wings similar to actual bird wings, and tried to measure lift and thrust and perform flight experiments.