Research progress on fluid structure interaction of bionic flexible flapping wing UAV

Biomimetic flapping-wing air vehicles are Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAV) mimicking the exceptional flight capabilities of insects and birds in the natural world which can delicately control posture and position during flight by flapping wings. These air vehicles have great potential for high-performance applications due to their unique biomimetic shape and flight characteristics, enabling them to achieve high maneuverability and aerodynamic efficiency in low Reynolds number environments. Typically, biomimetic flapping-wing air vehicles adopt lightweight flexible-wing structures. However, the Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) problem is a prominent research challenge regarding the periodic flapping motion. This article provides an overview of the current research status of fluid-structure interaction in flexible-wing flapping, introducing the common methods for fluid-structure interaction and important dimensionless parameters involved in numerical simulation analysis of flexible-wing flapping. The latest progress achieved in both domestic and international research is analyzed, and the tools used in computational analysis are shared. Furthermore, the article identifies the problems and potential directions for further development in current research, offering prospects for future studies on fluid-structure interaction in biomimetic flexible-wing UAVs.