Development of Flapping Flying Robot Mimicking a Small Bird that Achieve Bounding Flight

Abstract

UAVs have challenges in terms of safety and cruising range. A flapping flying robot has the potential to be a superior UAV in these aspects. The flapping motion is an oscillating motion and is safe. In addition, flapping flight robots don’t necessarily require flapping motion to sustain flight. In this study, we focused on bounding flight and aimed to achieve it with a flapping flight robot. Bounding flight is a flight method that many small birds perform by intermittently folding their wings during flapping flight. Therefore, to perform bounding flight, it is necessary to perform both the flapping motion and the wing folding motion. We have developed a flapping wing flying robot that can perform these motions and mimic bounding flight.