Biologically inspired and biomemetic micro aerial vehicle structures

该计划的重点是设计，优化，制造和测试柔性人工生物启发和仿生翅膀，用于微型飞行器（MAVs）和昆虫飞行研究。 目前正在考虑将微型飞行器用于民防、重要基础设施监测、救灾和环境研究等许多方面。 然而，有效的和功能的微型飞行器的发展正在阻碍部分由于缺乏低成本的制造技术的薄的灵活的多功能结构所需的飞行表面。 一种可能的方法是转向自然界寻求生物启发和/或仿生解决方案。 以昆虫翅膀为导向，将开发新型复合材料和加工技术，以生产具有高保真度和可重复性的轻质，多功能和低成本翅膀。 这些翅膀将被卡尔顿大学的合作者用于昆虫飞行研究。 人造翅膀还将与实际昆虫翅膀在灵活性，升力系数和重量方面的相对性能进行比较。 三名学生将有机会参与该计划，以开发这些新型结构所需的工艺和设计解决方案。 这些学生将作为国家研究理事会航空航天研究所和卡尔顿大学生物系的合作者团队的一部分进行研究。

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.