Design and testing of an experimental setup for gust alleviation through active flow control

This study aims to design and evaluate an efficient setup for a flapping wing operating in artificially generated gusts created by a Windshaper (WS) with dimensions 2 × 1.5 m. The WS allows flow speeds up to 20 m/s and enables the generation of various time-dependent wind profiles. The setup features a NACA0018 airfoil equipped with a dynamically actuated flap, controlled in real time by a servo motor. The flapping wing structure and its lateral support are 3D-printed and attached to a vertical beam. Two pressure sensors are embedded in the airfoil’s upper surface: one positioned before the maximum thickness point and the other after it. Additionally, a hot wire anemometer (HW) is placed in the wake region along the airfoil’s symmetry plane to measure velocity fluctuations. The primary objective of this experiment is to develop an optimized setup capable of acquiring and processing high frequency data efficiently. Once the system is fully tested and its properties verified, it will serve as a reliable tool for future algorithm development and testing.