Design: Small Servo
Definition: An ornithopter is simply an aircraft that flies by flapping its wings.
Description: In this project I use current materials and fabrication methods in order to expand the knowledge base around designing and building ornithopters. It is my hope that this knowledge can be used as a resource from hobbyists to research interested in biomimicry and flapping flight.
Presently information on making electronically powered ornithopters is kind of scarce so unless you are deep diving into ornithopter forums or scrubbing though videos at 0.25 speed clear information can be kind of difficult to come by.
I think this information could be used as a potential starting point that can be integrated into future work or projects. Which lets others pick up and iterate on the designs I left off.
Using Servos simplifies construction and allows for precise control of both flapping speed and angle
This ornithopter uses lightweight servos to flap the wings up and down. I designed and attached some 3D printed servo horns which allowed for direct connection of the wing spars. This reduced complexity of the design and saved weight.
To power this ornithopter I used 2 batteries in series with a buck converter that supplies the microcontroller, and both servos rated up to 6 volts.
I tested multiple different setups changing different components like the servos, batteries, buck/ boost converter, carbon fiber rod diameters, and frames for the body.
