Fig. 6: A PID controller used angle of attack feedback to adjust pitch rate and provide a fair comparison between electrostatic (orange) and passive feathered wings (blue) during the pitch-up maneuver. | Communications Engineering

Fig. 6: A PID controller used angle of attack feedback to adjust pitch rate and provide a fair comparison between electrostatic (orange) and passive feathered wings (blue) during the pitch-up maneuver.

From: Electrostatic adhesion mitigates aerodynamic losses from gap formations in feathered wings

Fig. 6

We found close agreement between the electrostatic and passive wings’ angles of attack (α) when approaching and maintaining the target angle (αtarget = 10°; red line) for each flight speed (U = 11.5, 14.3, 17 m/s; distinguished by increased opacity). The electrostatic wing consistently showed more aggressive flight, achieving a more rapid increase in flight path angle, \(\gamma\).

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