DESIGN, ANALYSIS, AND TESTING OF A FLAPPING WING MINIATURE AIR VEHICLE

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dc.contributor.advisorGupta, Satyandra Ken_US
dc.contributor.authorGerdes, John Williamen_US
dc.contributor.departmentMechanical Engineeringen_US
dc.contributor.publisherDigital Repository at the University of Marylanden_US
dc.contributor.publisherUniversity of Maryland (College Park, Md.)en_US
dc.date.accessioned2010-07-03T05:38:53Z
dc.date.available2010-07-03T05:38:53Z
dc.date.issued2010en_US
dc.description.abstractFlapping wing miniature air vehicles (MAVs) offer several advantageous performance benefits, relative to fixed-wing and rotary-wing MAVs. The goal of this thesis is to design a flapping wing MAV that achieves improved performance by focusing on the flapping mechanism and the spar arrangement in the wings. Two variations of the flapping mechanism are designed and tested, both using compliance as a technique for improved functionality. In the design of these mechanisms, kinematics and dynamics simulation is used to evaluate how forces encountered during wing flapping affect the mechanism. Finite element analysis is used to evaluate the stress and deformation of the mechanism, such that a lightweight yet functional design can be realized. The wings are tested using experimental techniques. These techniques include high speed photography, stiffness measurement, and lift and thrust measurements. Experimentally measured force results are validated with a series of flight tests. A framework for iterative improvement of the MAV is described, that uses the results of physical testing and simulations to investigate the underlying causes of MAV performance aspects; and seeks to capture those beneficial aspects that will allow for performance improvements. Wings and flapping mechanisms designed in this thesis are used to realize a bird-inspired flapping wing miniature air vehicle. This vehicle is capable of radio controlled flights indoors and outdoors in winds up to 6.7m/s with controlled steering, ascent, and descent, as well as payload carrying abilities.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1903/10477
dc.subject.pqcontrolledEngineering, Mechanicalen_US
dc.subject.pqcontrolledEngineering, Roboticsen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledairen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledflappingen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledMAVen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledminiatureen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledornithopteren_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledvehicleen_US
dc.titleDESIGN, ANALYSIS, AND TESTING OF A FLAPPING WING MINIATURE AIR VEHICLEen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US

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