A novel gust generator design to study the aerodynamic response of birds to vertical gusts

Recently there has been significant interest in the development of uninhabited aerial vehicles (UAVs) for civilian and military applications. However, a primary limitation to the widespread adoption of UAVs is their inability to perform well in gust-laden environments. This project adopts a bio-inspired approach to improve UAV design by collaborating with the Southeastern Raptor Center (SRC) to study the aerodynamic response of birds exposed to vertical gusts. To study the aerodynamic response of birds in a controlled environment, a novel gust generation device was developed. A commercially available air curtain with variable gust speed was procured and characterized. While gust speed was sufficiently high, it was observed that a non-uniform gust was produced across the length of the device. Modifications in the form of diverging ducts were incorporated to achieve a uniform gust speed of 6.3 ± 0.2 m/s. This gust generation device will be introduced in the flight path of a red-tailed hawk that is currently housed at the SRC. A combination of on-board sensors and high-speed imaging will be used to study the response of the hawk to this gusty aerodynamic environment. An improved understanding of bird flight mechanics in gusty conditions will allow for improved design of UAVs.