Objectives:
- • To characterize the fundamental aerodynamics principles governing ornithopter flight. Ornithopters the size of crows are considered as potential intelligence, surveillance, reconaissance platforms with capabilities for perching, hover, sustained forward flight, and short takeoff.
- • To study the flight behavior and dynamic modes associated with desirable flight regimes. This also encompasses calculating the requirements for steady flight in hover or forward flight.
- • To develop a controller to reject disturbances and control trajectories while performing stable steady flight and maneuvers.
Figure 1: Various ornithopters from throughout the ages.
Figure 2: A concept drawing of an ornithopter with various
flight variables illustrated.
Figure 3: Movement of discrete-time eigenvalues with control applied to forward flight.