Structural characteristics via SLDV for a class of morphing micro-air-vehicles

Conventional control surfaces have been used in most carbon fiber composite, membrane-wing autonomous micro air vehicles (MAV). In some cases, vehicle morphing is achieved using servo actuators to articulate vehicle kinematic joints, or to deform crucial wing / tail surfaces. However, articulated lifting surfaces and articulated wing sections are difficult to instrument and fabricate in a repeatable fashion. Assembly is complex and time consuming. The goal of this paper is to establish the feasibility of morphing wings on autonomous MAVs that are actuated via active materials. Active actuation is achieved via a type of piezoceramic composite called Macro Fiber Composite (MFC). This paper investigates the structural dynamics of morphing wings on MAVs that are actuated via active composites. This paper continues the work presented in1 by considering structural dynamic characteristics of the morphing vehicle determined through Scanning Laser Doppler Vibrometry (SLDV).

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