Instrumented flight test of flapping micro air vehicle

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the procedure and results from instrumented flight test performed on the flapping MAVs being developed by the authors. A test is performed using a test measurement system to obtain the real characteristics of the flapping vehicles during their flight.

Design/methodology/approach

The test is performed in an indoor flight test facility, equipped with a motion capture system and tracking cameras. Spatial position data are obtained from the vehicles with retro‐reflective tracking markers attached. A quantitative analysis is carried out through the investigation and interpretation of the test data for the flight performance assessment of the vehicles.

Findings

The finding of the analysis addresses that the test enabled the numerical measurement of vehicles' flying performance and shows the present vehicles have combined characteristics of both birds and insects.

Practical implications

The test metrics attempted in the present study are applicable to the test and evaluation of general flapping micro air vehicles. Thus, this testing method will be useful for the development of future micro air vehicle system.

Originality/value

Full‐scale instrumented flight test and measurement of performance parameters of flapping micro air vehicles other than visual observation are unprecedented and expected to present the guideline of systematic test and evaluation of flapping micro air vehicles.

Citation

Heon Kim, J., Yik Park, C., Moon Jun, S., Parker, G., Joon Yoon, K., Keun Chung, D., Hyun Paik, I. and Rok Kim, J. (2013), "Instrumented flight test of flapping micro air vehicle", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 85 No. 4, pp. 326-339. https://doi.org/10.1108/AEAT-Nov-2011-0168