Bio-Inspired Wing Designs for UAVs and Low Speed Aircraft

Ajayi Abiola Samuel*, Elijah Effiong G. Osimene, Brian Cobb Hanrahan, Shokenu Emmanuel Segun, Bodude Ayoola David, Ajayi Eniola Isaac, Matthew Peace Ehigocho

Received : January 24, 2026 | Published : February 23, 2026

Citation: Ajayi, A. S., Osimene, E. E. G., Hanrahan, B. C., Segun, S. E., David, B. A., Isaac, A. E., & Ehigocho, M. P. (2026). Bio-inspired wing designs for UAVs and low-speed aircraft. Journal of Applied Sciences and Applications in Engineering, 2(1), 1–11.

License: This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0) , which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution, and reproduction in any medium or format, provided appropriate credit is given to the original author(s) and the source, a link to the Creative Commons licence is provided, and any changes made are indicated.

Abstract

The aviation industry is under increasing pressure to reduce fuel consumption and emissions, driving the search for innovative aerodynamic solutions. This study presents a numerical investigation of bio-inspired airfoils as alternatives to conventional designs for drag reduction and efficiency improvement in low-Reynolds-number applications relevant to UAVs and future commercial aircraft. Five airfoils were evaluated: three bio-inspired geometries (Albatross, Falcon, Owl) and two conventional baselines (Eppler 387 and NACA 4412). Simulations were performed using a steady-state Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) solver with the SST k–ω transition model at angles of attack of 3°, 6°, 9°, and 15°. Results show that the Albatross achieved the highest lift coefficients, making it optimal for high-payload and STOL missions, while the Owl exhibited the lowest drag, offering endurance advantages for surveillance and ISR applications. The Falcon generated limited lift but competitive drag reduction, indicating a niche role for high-speed operations. In contrast, Eppler 387 and NACA 4412 underperformed due to stronger adverse pressure gradients and early flow separation. Pressure and velocity contour analyses confirmed that bio-inspired geometries promoted smoother pressure recovery and delayed boundary-layer separation compared to conventional profiles. Overall, the study demonstrates that bio-inspired morphing-inspired airfoils provide measurable aerodynamic advantages over fixed conventional designs, supporting the broader objective of employing morphing winglets to enhance drag reduction and flight efficiency in next-generation aircraft.

Keywords: Bio-inspired airfoils, drag reduction, aerodynamic efficiency, UAV design, Reynolds number, CFD simulation, lift-to-drag ratio.