Low voltage electromagnetically driven artificial flapping wings

We present low voltage electromagnetically driven artificial flapping wings for the first time under an estimated output power of 64.8μW at 22Hz using a driving voltage of only 5.5V. Three distinctive achievements have been accomplished in this work: (1) a small-size electromagnetic actuator using low driving voltage and a simplified model for its optimization; (2) direct actuation of flapping wings without any regulating mechanism by mechanical means; and (3) feasibility of unsynchronized flapping modes by individually controlled wing operations for flight controls. As such, this work advances the drive and control options for actuators used in the field of artificial Flapping-wing Micro Aerial Vehicles (FMAVs).