Development of a small flapping robot: Motion analysis during takeoff by numerical simulation and experiment

We present the development of a small flapping robot for use as an observation system in hazardous environments. An isometric physical model was constructed based on the observations of body and wing motions during takeoff of a butterfly, and we compared the flapping motion of the model with that of a butterfly. A computational model based on the finite-element method is used to analyze the vortex around the wing of the model during takeoff of the constructed robot. Computation results clarify the takeoff mechanism of the model and show the feasibility of a small flying device employing a flapping mechanism.