RoboRaven: Bird-Inspired Flight

PI: Prof. S. K. Gupta

Members of CECD are continuing to make progress on the work that started seven years ago: bird-inspired robotic flight. RoboRaven is the latest version of the robotic system that started out with a relatively simple coupled-wing mechanism utilizing a single motor. Now, RoboRaven is capable of moving each wing independently using two separate actuators and an on-board microcontroller. Making the wings independent has allowed RoboRaven to achieve greater maneuverability, but this capability has also added more weight and made it more difficult for the robotic system to fly. The team working on this project has been able to compensate for the added weight from the actuators and microcontroller by analyzing the aerodynamic forces generated during the flapping cycle and by optimizing the flapping of the wings to achieve more lift and thrust. They have also used 3D printing and laser cutting to produce several lightweight polymer parts.

This work is being funded by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research.