Bistable rotational mechanisms for morphing wings in unmanned aerial vehicles and beyond

Bistable mechanisms maintain two stable positions without consuming energy, making them useful in applications demanding long-term stability. Here, we introduce a novel rotational bistable mechanism designed specifically for airfoil leading and trailing edges morphing in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). The proposed mechanism addresses the need for a continuous energy supply during maneuvers, presenting a solution that conserves fuel or battery usage and contributes to the reduction of UAV weight. This mechanism, tunable both mechanically and geometrically, enables adaptive wing morphing to optimize UAV performance, maneuverability, and efficiency under various operational conditions. Experimental studies including wind tunnel tests and finite element analysis, confirm the mechanical reliability of the innovative proposed design. Beyond aeronautics applications, this mechanism has potential for a wide range of real-world applications, such as robotics, automotive engineering, prosthetics and orthotics, construction, and architecture highlighting its adaptability and potential benefits in the industry.