Design and Development of an RC Ornithopter for Remote Surveillance

This study presents an RC Ornithopter, a robotic bird designed to mimic real bird flight, equipped with real-time fire detection using an ESP32-CAM module for remote surveillance. The objective is to develop a cost-effective proof-of-concept demonstrating the integration of flapping-wing mechanics with AI-based surveillance capabilities in a lightweight platform. The Ornithopter streams live video while detecting fires using a YOLOv5 model, making it valuable for demonstrating surveillance concepts in controlled environments. Currently operating at low altitudes (≤50m) under calm conditions for safety during prototype development, this work establishes a foundation for future autonomous flight developments. The system successfully achieved 8–12 minutes of stable flight while maintaining operational fire detection capabilities within a 50-meter operational range.