Performance Evaluation and Torque Control in a Bio-Inspired Flapping-Wing Micro Aerial Vehicle Modeled After a Hummingbird

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
1 M.Sc. Student, Fidar FanAvarn Tekin Company, Tehran, Iran
2 M.Sc, Fidar FanAvaran Tekin Company, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
This study presents the design and analysis of a hummingbird-inspired flapping-wing micro aerial vehicle (MAV) aimed at achieving precise torque control and enhanced maneuverability. Two control strategies are proposed: (1) wing twist modulation to redistribute aerodynamic lift, and (2) adjustment of stroke amplitude and mean stroke angle (offset) to generate control torques in roll and pitch axes. The effectiveness of these mechanisms was examined through kinematic analysis, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, and experimental validation using a custom high-precision force measurement system. Results demonstrate that the twist modulation mechanism can generate pitch torque within –0.5 to 1.1 mN·m, while the second mechanism achieves roll torque of approximately ±3.4 mN·m. Both strategies exhibit fast dynamic responses to control inputs and produce lift forces exceeding 90 mN, sufficient for stable flight. The findings highlight the role of mechanical joint design and vibration suppression in improving energy efficiency and overall performance. This work contributes to advancing bio-inspired MAVs by introducing novel torque control approaches for highly maneuverable flapping-wing systems.
Keywords
Subjects

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  • Receive Date 23 March 2025
  • Revise Date 09 May 2025
  • Accept Date 17 May 2025
  • First Publish Date 18 May 2025
  • Publish Date 22 June 2025