Energy self-consistency of small aircraft combining triboelectric nanogenerator structure and flexible-wing technology

Abstract. Stable energy output is crucial for the sustained flight of small aircraft, particularly flapping-wing air vehicles (FAVs). Traditional energy supply methods, such as batteries, suffer from limitations in weight, range, and environmental impact. This study proposes a novel energy self-consistent model (ESCM) for FAVs that integrates a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) structure into a flexible-wing technology (FWT) based on silk protein. The TENG is designed to harvest energy from the wing's deformation during flapping motion. The experimental results demonstrated that the proposed model maintained an average energy output of 29.6 ± 3.4 mW over a 100 h simulated flight test, with a stability index of 3.5. Compared with the control group using traditional flexible wings without an integrated TENG, the performance of the research model improved by 36.82 %, with an average energy output of 29.6 ± 3.4 mW and a stability index of 1.8. With the increase in the number of cycles, the energy recovery accuracy of the wing has been improved, reaching up to 93.5 %. This innovative approach provides a promising solution for the energy challenges of small aircraft, paving the way for more sustainable and efficient flight.