Design and construction of an autonomous ornithopter

Abstract

In recent years the subject of flying vehicles propelled by flapping wings, also known as ornithopters, has been an area of interest because of its application to micro aerial vehicles (MAVs). These miniature vehicles seek to mimic small birds and insects to achieve never before seen agility in flight. This renewed interest has raised a host of new problems in vehicle dynamics and control to explore. In order to better study the control of flapping wing flight we have developed a large scale ornithopter called the Phoenix. It is capable of carrying a heavy (400 gram) computer and sensor package and is designed specially for the application of controls research. The design takes special care to optimize payload capacity, crash survivability, and field repair abilities. This thesis covers the design process of both the mechanical and electrical systems of the ornithopter and initial control experiments. We also show that it is possible to stabilize the machine in pitch with a simple PD controller through experimental testing..