Investigation of the dynamics of leading edge control surfaces for MAV flight

Control surfaces mounted on wing trailing edges actuated with commercially available servos have not been able to achieve sufficient control authority and rapidity to keep small micro air vehicles (MAVs) flying straight and level in turbulent flow. The use of control surfaces hinged at the leading edge of the wing is investigated as a potential solution to improving control response. Flow visualization of leading edge control surface revealed that higher deflection rates delayed flow separation and this is expected to enhance control forces. Investigation with "free to rotate" leading edge control surfaces (i.e. driven purely by the flow) determined the speeds of rotation for a variety of incident flow speed. Varying control surface masses were investigated which enabled extrapolation to a zero mass control surface revealing the typical actuation rates of free to rotate control surfaces.