High Fidelity Simulations of Flapping Wings Designed for Energetically Optimal Flight

computational approach for analysis and design. At the lowest delity level, we use a wake-only energetics model that allows us to rapidly scan the global apping kinematics for ecient kinematics and congurations. Following the wake-only design space characterization, we determine a series of candidate apping wing geometries that can produce the desired wake characteristics. To do this, we have developed a quasiinverse wing design strategy that attempts to match the designed vehicle’s wake-circulation distribution with that predicted by the energetics model. Using our modied-doublet lattice method, we are able to determine how to modulate wing twist and camber to produce the desired wake vorticity. Because the method assumes inviscid ow, we are able to derive a large number of candidate designs to produce the target wake; however, as we show in this paper, only some of the designs perform adequately in physically relevant viscous