<P>Flapping wing vehicles (FWVs) have unique flight characteristics and the successful flight of such a vehicle depends upon efficient design of the flapping mechanisms while keeping the minimum weight of the structure. <B>Flapping Wing Vehicles: Numerical and Experimental Approach</B> discusses design and kinematic analysis of various flapping wing mechanisms, measurement of flap angle/flapping frequency, and computational fluid dynamic analysis of motion characteristics including manufacturing techniques. The book also includes wind tunnel experiments, high-speed photographic analysis of aerodynamic performance, soap film visualization of 3D down washing, studies on the effect of wing rotation, figure-of-eight motion characteristics, and more.</P><B><P>Features</P><UL></B><P><LI>Covers all aspects of FWVs needed to design one and understand how and why it flies</LI><P></P><P><LI>Explains related engineering practices including flapping mechanism design, kinematic analysis, materials,