The Dragonfly Flight Envelope and its Application to Micro UAV Research and Development

In this paper we present quantitative analysis of three dimensional trajectories of dragonflies under free flight conditions. The trajectories were captured while male insects were engaged in their normal behaviour of combat to protect oviposition sites along a stream. With measurements of speed, acceleration and turn rate of large dragonflies we have the means by which comparative studies can be done against other species and in different environments. Using physical scaling laws we propose a method by which this data set can be used to provide a comparison for larger flapping wing UAV concepts. Our ultimate goal is to provide a robust standard against which flapping wing aircraft performance can be compared so that appropriate evolutionary pressure can also be applied to technological developments, thus freeing resources for truly viable designs.