Design and analysis of a bionic-inspired single-rotor MAV with a foldable wing

Microaerial vehicles (MAVs) have achieved rapid advancement and vast applications. Energy efficiency and friction loss are common problems of MAVs, and exploring novel structural design and enhancing flight performance are critical research directions. Here, a bionic-inspired single-rotor MAV with a foldable wing is fabricated by imitating winged achene in nature. The structural design of the wing based on origami principle, overall aerodynamic modeling analysis, kinematic analysis, and control system design is carried out. The prototype weighs 75 g and equipped with only one motor, achieved the desired flight attitude of vertical takeoff and landing, hovering and horizontal flight, and so forth. During nonflight, the wings fold down can reduce 70% storage area for easier transportation. The vehicle combines high flight efficiency with compactness, superior stability, simple structure, economical manufacturing cost, low flight noise, and spin deceleration safety protection, which has good potential for application in the aerial vehicle fields.