Rachel D Gehlhar
Papers
1
Total Citations
41
H-Index
1
About
Dr. Rachel D. Gehlhar is a leading researcher in bio-inspired robotics and energy harvesting systems, with a primary focus on extending the flight endurance of flapping-wing aerial vehicles (ornithopters). Her most impactful work, "Design, fabrication, and characterization of multifunctional wings to harvest solar energy in flapping wing air vehicles" (2015, 41 citations), addresses a critical bottleneck in micro-aerial vehicle design: the severe limitation of on-board energy storage. By integrating flexible solar cells directly into the wing structure, Dr. Gehlhar pioneered a multifunctional approach that transforms a passive aerodynamic component into an active energy-harvesting surface. This contribution demonstrates how structural and power systems can be merged to dramatically increase flight duration without adding weight or drag. Her research has significant implications for long-endurance surveillance, environmental monitoring, and search-and-rescue missions. Through this innovative work, Dr. Gehlhar has established herself as a key figure in the development of more autonomous and resilient robotic birds, advancing the frontier of energy-autonomous flight.
Research Focus
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Top Papers
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