Design and dynamic characteristics study of micro flapping actuator of flapping-wing MAV

Flapping-wing micro air vehicles (MAV) are conceptual air vehicles. They surpass the research fields of traditional airplane design and aerodynamics in relation to application technologies, and initiate the applications of MEMS (microelectromechanical system) technologies to aviation fields. The design, fabrication and dynamic characteristics of micro flapping actuator are the keys of flapping-wing MAV design. A micro flapping mechanism is studied, based on insect thorax and actuated by electrostatic force. Because there are strong nonlinear couplings between the two physical domains, electrical and mechanical, the dynamic characteristics of this system are very complicated. The stable properties of equilibrium points are analyzed, the nonlinear dynamic characteristics of the system with and without damping are studied in the phase space, and the effects of original conditions and damping on the pull-in voltage are discussed. The dynamic responses of the system to different voltage signals are analyzed. The results are helpful to the design, fabrication and application of micro flapping actuator.