Towards silent and efficient flight by combining bioinspired owl feather serrations with cicada wing geometry

• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48454-3
• Publication Date: 2024-05-21T18:02:16Z
• Authors: Zixiao Wei; Stanley Wang; Sean Farris; Naga Chennuri; Ningping Wang; Stara Shinsato; Kahraman Demir; Maya Horii; Grace X. Gu
• Keywords: Flapping

Abstract As natural predators, owls fly with astonishing stealth due to the serrated feather morphology that produces advantageous flow characteristics. Traditionally, these serrations are tailored for airfoil edges simple two-dimensional patterns, limiting their effect on noise reduction while negotiating tradeoffs in aerodynamic performance. Conversely, intricately structured wings of cicadas have evolved effective flapping, presenting a potential blueprint alleviating limitations. In this study, we formulate synergistic design strategy harmonizes suppression efficiency by integrating geometrical attributes owl feathers and cicada forewings, culminating three-dimensional sinusoidal serration propeller topology facilitates both silent efficient flight. Experimental results show our yields overall sound pressure levels up 5.5 dB an increase propulsive over 20% compared current industry benchmark. Computational fluid dynamics simulations validate efficacy bioinspired augmenting surface vorticity suppressing generation across various regimes. This can advance multifunctionality surfaces development quieter more energy-saving aerial vehicles.