Micro- and Nano-Air Vehicles: State of the Art
Micro- and nano air vehicles are defined as “extremely small and ultra-lightweight air vehicle systems” with a maximum wingspan length of 15 cm and a weight less than 20 grams. Here, we provide a review of the current state of the art and identify the challenges of design and fabrication. Different...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2011-01-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Aerospace Engineering |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/214549 |
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| _version_ | 1849399709992484864 |
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| author | Luca Petricca Per Ohlckers Christopher Grinde |
| author_facet | Luca Petricca Per Ohlckers Christopher Grinde |
| author_sort | Luca Petricca |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Micro- and nano air vehicles are defined as “extremely small and ultra-lightweight air vehicle systems” with a maximum wingspan length of 15 cm and a weight less than 20 grams. Here, we provide a review of the current state of the art and identify the challenges of design and fabrication. Different configurations are evaluated, such as fixed wings, rotary wings, and flapping wings. The main advantages and drawbacks for each typology are identified and discussed. Special attention is given to rotary-wing vehicles (helicopter concept); including a review of their main structures, such as the airframe, energy storage, controls, and communications systems. In addition, a review of relevant sensors is also included. Examples of existing and future systems are also included. Micro- and nano-vehicles with rotary wings and rechargeable batteries are dominating. The flight times of current systems are typically around 1 hour or less due to the limited energy storage capabilities of the used rechargeable batteries. Fuel cells and ultra capacitors are promising alternative energy supply technologies for the future. Technology improvements, mainly based on micro- and nanotechnologies, are expected to continue in an evolutionary way to improve the capabilities of future micro- and nano air vehicles, giving improved flight times and payload capabilities. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9ca90aa7b8274bc2bc432cf404e24865 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1687-5966 1687-5974 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2011-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Aerospace Engineering |
| spelling | doaj-art-9ca90aa7b8274bc2bc432cf404e248652025-08-20T03:38:16ZengWileyInternational Journal of Aerospace Engineering1687-59661687-59742011-01-01201110.1155/2011/214549214549Micro- and Nano-Air Vehicles: State of the ArtLuca Petricca0Per Ohlckers1Christopher Grinde2Department of Micro and Nano Systems Technology (IMST), Vestfold University College, P.O. Box 2243, 3103 Tønsberg, NorwayDepartment of Micro and Nano Systems Technology (IMST), Vestfold University College, P.O. Box 2243, 3103 Tønsberg, NorwayDepartment of Micro and Nano Systems Technology (IMST), Vestfold University College, P.O. Box 2243, 3103 Tønsberg, NorwayMicro- and nano air vehicles are defined as “extremely small and ultra-lightweight air vehicle systems” with a maximum wingspan length of 15 cm and a weight less than 20 grams. Here, we provide a review of the current state of the art and identify the challenges of design and fabrication. Different configurations are evaluated, such as fixed wings, rotary wings, and flapping wings. The main advantages and drawbacks for each typology are identified and discussed. Special attention is given to rotary-wing vehicles (helicopter concept); including a review of their main structures, such as the airframe, energy storage, controls, and communications systems. In addition, a review of relevant sensors is also included. Examples of existing and future systems are also included. Micro- and nano-vehicles with rotary wings and rechargeable batteries are dominating. The flight times of current systems are typically around 1 hour or less due to the limited energy storage capabilities of the used rechargeable batteries. Fuel cells and ultra capacitors are promising alternative energy supply technologies for the future. Technology improvements, mainly based on micro- and nanotechnologies, are expected to continue in an evolutionary way to improve the capabilities of future micro- and nano air vehicles, giving improved flight times and payload capabilities.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/214549 |
| spellingShingle | Luca Petricca Per Ohlckers Christopher Grinde Micro- and Nano-Air Vehicles: State of the Art International Journal of Aerospace Engineering |
| title | Micro- and Nano-Air Vehicles: State of the Art |
| title_full | Micro- and Nano-Air Vehicles: State of the Art |
| title_fullStr | Micro- and Nano-Air Vehicles: State of the Art |
| title_full_unstemmed | Micro- and Nano-Air Vehicles: State of the Art |
| title_short | Micro- and Nano-Air Vehicles: State of the Art |
| title_sort | micro and nano air vehicles state of the art |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/214549 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT lucapetricca microandnanoairvehiclesstateoftheart AT perohlckers microandnanoairvehiclesstateoftheart AT christophergrinde microandnanoairvehiclesstateoftheart |