Optimization Design of Flapping Mechanism and Wings for Flapping-Wing MAVs

In this paper, a lightweight flapping-wing MAV (micro air vehicle) was built which can successfully fly in the sky. However, this flying MAV often pitches toward left or right and crashes during flight. It is mainly caused by the incomplete symmetry of the wings' movement. So an optimization design was carried on for the flapping mechanism using Hooke-Jeeves method under the restraint conditions of mechanics, bionics and aerodynamics. Then biomimetic wings design and modal optimization approaches associated with the flapping mechanism were studied using finite element method, considering different parameters such as aspect ratio and key node coordinates of wing's nervure. The characteristics of geometric shapes and the nervure position for biomimetic wings were discussed finally.