Resonance Based Flapping Wing Micro Air Vehicle

Flapping wing micro air vehicles have many possible applications and have therefore been the subject of extensive research. The Atalanta project aims to develop a fully autonomous, 10 cm wingspan, flapping wing sensor platform. The structure is based on a fully compliant resonating structure with passive wing pitching. Several design improvements have taken place since the last report. Introduction of non-linear springs result in a more effective wing kinematic and extensive simulation and optimization was done to improve the wing design. Lighter electromagnetic actuators were designed while the possibilities of a chemical micro engine are investigated. Control experiments are underway using piezoelectric elements to locally change the structure stiffness thereby changing the kinematics of the system and thus the lift. To be able to efficiently design such a flight control, a framework was developed for the control of resonant compliant systems. Finally a sensor system for flight stabilization and object avoidance is suggested and under investigation.