Electronic Ornithopter Systems: Manual Navigation and Autonomous Hovering in Micro Air Vehicles

Ornithopters, micro air vehicles that fly by flapping their wings, can be applied to a wide range of fields. Currently, the research and technology required to build these machines are in the early stages of development. The purpose of this research project is to design, develop, and construct an ornithopter with maneuvering and hovering capabilities. The model draws inspiration from previous ornithopter models as well as several species of insects. Digital prototypes were modeled in CAD software, and physical prototypes were 3D printed for testing. Results from the experiments proved the device’s success with maneuvering as well as stabilizing while hovering.