Vibrating wing analysis with passive torsion for micro flying robot

This paper presents a first stage in developing a robot at the size of an insect by using exclusively advanced technologies of the microelectronics. The concept of a vibrating wing with passive torsion is validated by comparisons between theoretical and experimental approaches on a schematic geometry of a single wing. The structural and aerodynamic aspects are separated in a weakly coupled formulation. In this first stage the wing is represented by a beam with a L shape. Vibrations with large displacements in bending-torsion are obtained at the expected frequency with well adapted materials. The theoretical and experimental approaches have now to be extended to a more complex system with two wings, a thorax and actuators.