Design and development of bio-inspired flapping wing aerial vehicles

This paper introduces the design and development process of a flapping wing air vehicle (FWAV) and the modified Silver-Gull inspired flapping wing air vehicle (SGFWAV). The selection of the flapping mechanism, power source, material and the associated manufacturing methods are discussed. Free flight test showed that the flapping of the wings were unstable due to the configuration of the flapping mechanism. A modified flapping mechanism is applied on the SGFWAV. The mathematical model of the SGFWAV is established and initial flight simulation indicates that the tail's motion generate additional aerodynamic lift and propulsive forces for the SGFWAV.