AVID Begins Development of Flapping Wing MAV Design Software Suite

AVID is excited to announce receipt of a Phase II SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) award sponsored by the Air Force Research Laboratory that will result in an integrated suite of design tools (AVID FlapAV)for flapping wing micro air vehicles (MAVs).

In comparison to conventional fixed-wing air craft or helicopters, insect-like flapping wings can yield a more maneuverable, robust, and visually discreet MAV platform, but are very difficult to design using piecemeal analyses or empirical methods.  The AVID design suite will link geometric modeling, unsteady aerodynamic, structural, closed-loop flight control, and camera output visualization tools into a seamless user experience.  Once completed, this suite will enable MAV systems to be designed and optimized using rigorous physics-based engineering methods rather than ad hoc experimentation.  AVID FlapAV is scheduled for release in 2011.

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"A Design Software Suite for Flapping Wing MAVs"  Technical White Paper