Biologically inspired and biomemetic micro aerial vehicle structures

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The proposed program focuses on the design, optimization, fabrication and testing of flexible artificial biologically-inspired and biomimetic wings for application to micro aerial vehicles (MAVs) and insect flight studies. Micro aerial vehicles are being considered for numerous applications in civil defence, critical infrastructure monitoring, disaster relief and environmental studies. However, the development of efficient and functional MAVs is being held back in part by a lack of low cost fabrication techniques for the thin flexible multifunctional structures required for the flight surfaces. One possible approach is to turn to nature for biologically-inspired and/or biomimetic solutions. Using insect wings as a guide, novel composite materials and processing techniques will be developed to produce lightweight, multifunctional and low cost wings with high fidelity and repeatability. These wings will be used in insect flight studies by the collaborators at Carleton University. The artificial wings will also be compared to actual insect wings for their relative performance in terms of flexibility, lift coefficient and weight. Three students will have the opportunity to work on this program to develop the processes and design solutions required for these novel structures. The students will carry out their research as part of a team of collaborators at the National Research Council Institute for Aerospace Research and Carleton University's Department of Biology.