Bat inspired micro air vehicles in the offing

​London: Inspired by bats, a team led by an Indian-origin researcher has successfully tested unique membrane wings that work like artificial muscles in flight, paving the way for a new breed of unmanned micro air vehicles (MAVs).

Bat-flight inspired MAVs will have improved aerodynamic properties, can fly over long distances and are more economical to run, said the team from University of Southampton and Imperial College London. The wings change shape like bats in response to the forces they experience and have no mechanical parts - making MAVs incorporating them easier to maintain.

The unique design of the wings incorporates electro-active polymers that make the wings stiffen and relax in response to an applied voltage and further enhances their performance. By changing the voltage input, the shape of the electro-active membrane and, therefore, aerodynamic characteristics can be altered during flight.

The proof-of-concept wing will eventually enable flight over much longer distances than currently possible. Sometimes as small as 15cm across, MAVs are increasingly used in a wide variety of civil and military applications such as surveying remote and dangerous areas.