Micro-Feather Sense and Control MAV Performance Aerodynamic Enhancement System

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) in collaboration with the Iowa State University (ISU) proposes to develop an innovative bio-inspired approach for dramatically increasing the efficiency and agility of micro air vehicles (MAVs). The concept is to develop micro-feather/hair covered membrane wings for a flapping wing MAV that will allow the vehicle to approach the flight efficiency and agility of the Hawkmoth by both sensing lift producing flow phenomena and actively (or passively) modifying the boundary layer flow. When successful the commercial potential of this discovery will be far reaching, allowing the development of MAVs that can robustly operate in highly cluttered, dynamic environments in the presents of wind gusts something that is impossible with today"s MAV designs. This boundary layer sense and control concept will also be developed as a applique to enhance the performance of a small unmanned system such as the WASP and RAVEN UAVs by sensing a stall before it begins and delaying it.