One-wing polymer micromachined transmission for insect-inspired flapping wing nano air vehicles

Abstract

This paper presents a feasibility step in the development of an insect-inspired flapping wing nano air vehicle using advanced engineering technologies such as microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technologies. To develop an insect-inspired flapping wing nano air vehicle, a one-wing polymer micromachined transmission is proposed in this paper. The novelty of this study includes (1) the use of the geometrically nonlinear bending deformation of a set of two parallel elastic hinges as the basis for the transmission mechanism, which produces a large rotational displacement from a small translational displacement, and (2) a complete 2.5-dimensional structure that can be fabricated using standard microfabrication techniques, including etching, photolithography, deposition, and curing, without any post-assembly. This design is also an improved version of our previous design, a two-wing polymer micromachined transmission. The transmission proposed here has a great advantage over other types of transmission mechanisms, including its low energy loss because no post-assembly is required (reduced friction loss); its low total weight; its capacity to be further miniaturized without difficulty; and its performance, i.e., ability to produce the necessary stroke angle of approximately 30 degrees without resonance assistance.