Development of new morphologies for mini aerial robots (MAVs)

• Grant number: 14/02570-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2014
• End date: May 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Principal Investigator: Marcelo Becker
• Grantee: Caio Amancio Cristovão Martins
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

MAVs (Mini Aerial Vehicles) are small-scale Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). They have characteristics that make them ideal for punctual missions and precision ones. They are versatile and present favorable energy characteristics. There was also a large increase in demand for UAVs in past years and it is expected further growth (Sullivan, 2012). The present work falls within this context with the proposed development of new morphologies for air robots (MAVs). All the stages of development will be carried out from the identification of the mission, conceptual design, improving the design to manufacturing and final testing of the platform. Computational analysis of aerodynamic and dynamics of flight stability nature will be done with the aid of suitable software (XFLR5, SolidWorks Flow Simulation ® and © Microsoft Flight Simulation). Finally, tests will also be conducted in the wind tunnel at the Laboratory of Experimental Aerodynamics (LAE) of the School of Engineering of São Carlos - University of São Paulo. Flight tests will also be conducted. The final results will then be analyzed to determine the final characteristics of the new morphology like stability, autonomy of flight, maximum speed, among others, and thus determine the success of the proposed aircraft.