Bio-inspired design of flapping-wing micro air vehicles

TLDR

The paper presents the development and flight testing of radio‑controlled micro air vehicles propelled by flapping wings. The vehicles feature a low‑aspect‑ratio fixed wing coupled to a pair of higher‑aspect‑ratio flapping wings that counter‑phase, providing mechanical and aerodynamic balance, improved efficiency via ground‑effect emulation, stall suppression, and a lightweight 11‑g design with 23‑cm span and 20‑minute endurance. Stable flight at 2–5 m s⁻¹ was achieved, the models were essentially stall‑proof while powered, and their static‑thrust figure of merit exceeded propellers of similar scale by 60 %.

Abstract

Abstract In this paper the development and flight testing of flapping-wing propelled, radio-controlled micro air vehicles are described. The unconventional vehicles consist of a low aspect ratio fixed-wing with a trailing pair of higher aspect ratio flapping wings which flap in counterphase. The symmetric flapping-wing pair provides a mechanically and aerodynamically balanced platform, increases efficiency by emulating flight in ground effect, and suppresses stall over the main wing by entraining flow. The models weigh as little as 11g, with a 23cm span and 18cm length and will fly for about 20 minutes on a rechargeable battery. Stable flight at speeds between 2 and 5ms –1 has been demonstrated, and the models are essentially stall-proof while under power. The static-thrust figure of merit for the device is 60% higher than propellers with a similar scale and disk loading.