Biomimetic Design of Morphing Micro Air Vehicles

ABSTRACT: Texas Research Institute Austin (TRI/Austin) teaming with the University of Florida Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department proposes to demonstrate a proof of concept for a micro air vehicle (MAV) that has a wing capable of autonomously morphing planform shape, camber, and angle-of-attack like a bird wing in response to a variety of flight conditions.The intent in the Phase I effort is to identify, develop and demonstrate all of the technologies necessary to prototype a morphing MAV wing.Using engineered and smart materials, the physical structures of a birds wing, including bones, tendons, muscles, and feathers will be emulated in the proposed MAV design.Initially, four MAVs with conventional actuators (servos) will be built; two with outstretched wings (6% and 15% camber of the in-board portion), a configuration for fast dive, and a configuration that is between full wing outstretch and fast dive condition.This effort will require tooling for all four configurations and fabrication using composites.Servos will be used instead of smart materials for actuation purposes.The fully articulated MAV with morphing capability based on smart materials will be fabricated in the last two months of the task.; BENEFIT: A morphing MAV has the potential for superior flight performance (speed, payload capacity, climb-out potential, durability, and quiet operation) over fixed wing or flapping designs, and can be ready for production within a short period of time. The vehicle can be designed to look like a bird of the same scale and thus be disguised or capable of hiding in plain sight (while airborne).The design is scalable and can mimic bird shapes from a 10 inch wingspan chimney swift (chaetura pelagica), through a 30 inch wingspan peregrine falcon (falco peregrinus), all the way to a 72 inch wingspan turkey vulture (cathartes aura).The size range allows for a wide variety of mission profiles including stealthy urban low level reconnaissance, agile/pinpoint smart bombing, and higher altitude long duration loitering reconnaissance.The proposed system is to utilize a combination of biomimetic active as well as passive mechanisms to provide for a more robust approach to improving the performance over current MAV platforms.