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Detailed Description
Title
The design and fabrication of a micro mechanical dragonfly
Department(s)
Mechanical Engineering
Creator(s)
Advisor(s)
Date of Original
6/1/2009
Description
The goal this project was to create a scaled model of a flapping wing aerial vehicle.
The design was initially based on a remote controlled model available at many toy stores.
This model was in the form of a dragonfly but about four times the size in each
dimension. My project was to scale this down, ideally to the size of a real dragonfly. This
however was difficult, and a half scaled prototype (twice life size) was constructed
instead. Scaling was done using dimensionless fluid parameters such as the Reynolds and
Strouhal numbers which effectively related the various properties of each model. Testing
and modification of the prototype were carried out, and in the process an analytical model
was made to model the dynamics. Although still not flying, the prototype will hopefully
soon be ready for testing against the theory. In the future, more testing will be completed,
and minor modifications made to get the scaled prototype flying. All of this is part of a
larger goal to miniaturize a flapping flying robot of which this project is only a part.
The design was initially based on a remote controlled model available at many toy stores.
This model was in the form of a dragonfly but about four times the size in each
dimension. My project was to scale this down, ideally to the size of a real dragonfly. This
however was difficult, and a half scaled prototype (twice life size) was constructed
instead. Scaling was done using dimensionless fluid parameters such as the Reynolds and
Strouhal numbers which effectively related the various properties of each model. Testing
and modification of the prototype were carried out, and in the process an analytical model
was made to model the dynamics. Although still not flying, the prototype will hopefully
soon be ready for testing against the theory. In the future, more testing will be completed,
and minor modifications made to get the scaled prototype flying. All of this is part of a
larger goal to miniaturize a flapping flying robot of which this project is only a part.
Genre
thesis
Publisher of Digital Record
Union College Schaffer Library Digital Projects
Source
Union College Schaffer Library Special Collections
Contact Information
Union College Schaffer Library Special Collections, 807 Union St., Schenectady, NY 12308; 518-388-6620; https://www.union.edu/schaffer-library
Harmful Language Statement
Language
English