ABSTRACT

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is working on the development of a new class of flight vehicles called micro air vehicles (MAVs). The high level of current interest in developing small flight vehicles is the result of the nearly simultaneous emergence of their technological feasibility and an array of compelling new military needs. The definition employed in DARPA’s program limits these aircraft to a size less than 15 centimeters in length, width, and height. MAVs must have a weight of 50 grams or less and must be capable of staying aloft for 20 to 60 minutes for a distance of 10 kilometers. There are several possibilities on which to model the new MAVs. Some possible sources include birds and small insects. Due to size constraints and efficiency needs, Ultra Flite has decided to study hummingbirds since they are both very maneuverable and very small. Ultra Flite was given the task of developing a comprehensive dynamic model of a hummingbird’s wings in hovering flight. The results from the dynamic model and aeroelastic analysis can then be related to MAV technology which would lead to the ultimate goal of constructing a robotic hummingbird. To accomplish this goal, the hummingbird was filmed during hovering flight to obtain its wing pattern motion. After filming, a CT-Scan of the hummingbird was completed in order to obtain the much needed bone structure. These results can be utilized by future groups to conduct an aeroelastic analysis on the wing structure.