Chiba University Enhances Flapping-Wing Robot's Wind Resistance with Optimized Control Algorithm

Abner Asignacion, a specially appointed assistant professor at the Graduate School of Engineering, Chiba University, Japan, and Dr. Satoshi Suzuki recently investigated the flight dynamics of a commercially available flapping-wing (FW) robot to enhance its flight stability in windy environments. Their findings were published in the journal *Control Engineering Practice*. The study revealed that when the robot receives a command to move horizontally in a certain direction, it initially moves briefly in the opposite direction before correcting its course toward the target—a phenomenon known as non-minimum-phase behavior. The researchers noted that this characteristic is one of the key factors limiting the disturbance rejection capability of flapping-wing micro air vehicles.