PROGRESS OF THE REMANTA PROJECT ON MAV WITH FLAPPING WINGS

Since 2002 a home project (REMANTA for REsearch programme on Microvehicle And New Technologies Application) has been carried out in order to improve our knowledge on science fields required for realizing a Flapping Wing Micro Air Vehicle. This primary project will stop at the end of year 2006. This concept needs to merge different skills and to develop new control and actuator concepts for building an agile MAV able to hover and cruise. The three research topics are the following ones: • Flight dynamics and control • Low Reynolds number aerodynamics • Light materials, structures and actuators

This paper takes stock of the work done until now and presents the different demonstrators that were realized. With a simplified version of the 6ddl flight mechanics model OSCAB the optimization of the flapping kinematics has been made in open loop. Command and control in closed loop have been investigated and controllability was proved. Two different mechanisms have been built and used in hydrodynamic experiments in order to measure unsteady aerodynamic coefficients in low Reynolds Number domain.

The data base obtained is available for comparison with numerical simulations or other experimental results. Simplified laws have been identified and put into the models. Moreover the concept of wing actuation based on resonant thorax type has been evaluated. 2ddl mathematical models have been conceived and kinematics demonstrators have been built in order to characterize the induced movements and displacements.

Ultra light wings have been made whose flexibility may be adjusted by increasing/decreasing the number of carbon tows or the spacing of the ribs. The REMANTA project is ready to go farther until the realization of a flying demonstrator. We are looking for funding and collaboration with other research teams.