Year: 2025
Type: conference-paper
Abstract: Insects and birds make use of unsteady aerodynamics in order to achieve efficient and maneuverable flight, and by emulating these through biomimetics, more advanced micro aerial vehicle designs can be developed. Insect inspired micro aerial vehicles can be made smaller and lighter than fixed wing counterparts, in addition to having a flexible design convenient for storage in small spaces. These features would prove advantageous for space exploration missions using fleets of insect-inspired drones on planetary bodies like Mars. A key defining characteristic of biological flight is the complexity and flexibility of the wing motion, including wing deformation and stroke angles. This paper reviews two biomimetic designs that are in development. The Monarch butterfly serves as the main inspiration, and a combination of passive and powered mechanical mechanisms are used in the designs to achieve similar flight properties at a relatively small scale and mass. The ultimate goal of this research is to develop a model that utilizes complex bio-inspired motion to develop the necessary lift for flight without being tethered to a power source on the ground. The first design features a single gear driven spur gear and flapping arm to produce a mostly vertical wing flap motion, and the second uses a two-gear system to approximate the signature figure-8 wing motion of a butterfly in nominal flight. Designs were modeled and developed in a Computer Aided Design (CAD) environment, and prototypes were 3D printed then analyzed and tested using a force sensor to measure generated lift and a Vicon camera system to measure wing movement. The wings are made predominantly out of a combination of flexible film material and carbon fiber rods. The two vehicles are designed to accommodate an on-board power supply for tetherless flight, and use the same wings and general body construction aside from the wing powering mechanisms. In the final paper, the designs, development methodology, and final results will be discussed. Model motion will be simulated in a CAD environment, then verified against experimental results using 3D printed prototypes. Wing performance will be tested using a simple wing flapping test stand, force sensor, and motion tracking system. Designs will be compared in terms of lift production, mass, resulting motion, and general performance. Once flight is achieved for either design, further refinement and preliminary control systems will be developed to allow for controllable, un-tethered flight.
DOI: 10.2514/6.2025-99760
Authors: Caroline Waugh, Chang-kwon Kang, Jorge Mares Zamora
Language: English
Subfield: Aerospace Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4413191346