A Computational Design Framework for Flapping Micro Air Vehicles

The authors have embarked on the development of a Computational Design Framework as the means to synthesize and optimize highly integrated Micro Air Vehicle designs with flapping wings. This paper describes both the computational physics and the framework requirements that contribute to the overall design. Computational physics address inherently non-linear flapping aerodynamics and non-linear structures. Mathematical models of symbiotic non-linear behavior will feed design optimization in ways that bring out new and beneficial aeroelastic interactions. A preliminary design was initiated with simplified physics in order to begin design connectivity within the design framework. The framework builds on earlier reported developments with software classes (objects) that facilitate coordinated graphical animation using either a single or multiple windows.