High-Fidelity Beetle-Inspired 3D-Printed Wings for Miniature Flapping Drones

Miniature flapping drones equipped with lightweight membranous wings have shown great potential for operating effectively in small spaces. Achieving optimal flight performance in these drones heavily relies on the appropriate design of their flexible wings. In this study, we explore the utilization of 3D-printing technology to fabricate high-fidelity, bioinspired wings and expedite the design process for miniature flapping drones.<br/>Drawing inspiration from the wings of the rose chafer beetle, we employ a bioinspired approach to develop 3D-printed wings. By modulating the wing structure, we create twelve distinct wing models that feature variations in vein cross-section shape, tapering geometry, and membrane thickness. Through a comprehensive comparison of their mechanical and aerodynamic properties, we establish guidelines to correlate wing form and function.<br/>Our findings reveal the following key insights: first, manipulating the cross-section shape of the veins provides a powerful tool for engineering in-plane and out-of-plane deformations. Second, tapering veins enhance the wings' mechanical stability, improving their overall performance.<br/>Experimental results demonstrate that the optimized wings exhibit a 16% increase in lift and a 27% improvement in lift production efficiency (N/Watts) when tested in a revolving wing setup. The successful design of lightweight, flexible, robust, and aerodynamically efficient wings poses a formidable engineering challenge that we aim to address through our bioinspired methodology. By reverse engineering these intricate structures, we contribute empirical knowledge to the field of wing design for miniature flapping drones.<br/>Our work highlights the potential of bioinspiration and 3D-printing techniques to advance the development of miniature flapping drones with enhanced flight performance. The insights gained from this study provide valuable guidance for future advancements in the field of bioinspired wing design and optimization.