Micromechanical Flying Insect (MFI) Project The goal of the
micromechanical flying insect (MFI) project is to develop a 25
mm (wingtip-to-wingtip) device capable of sustained autonomous
flight. The MFI is designed based on biomimetic principles to
capture some of the exceptional flight performance achieved by
true flies. The high performance of true flies is based on large
forces generated by non-steady state aerodynamics, a high power-
to-weight ratio motor system, and a high-speed control system
with tightly integrated visual and inertial sensors. Our design
analysis shows us that piezoelectric actuators and flexible
thorax structures can provide the needed power density and wing
stroke, and that adequate power can be supplied by lithium
batteries charged by solar cells. The MFI project started in May
1998. In the first 3 years of this MURI grant, research
concentrated on understanding fly flight aerodynamics and on
analysis, design and fabrication of MFI actuators, thorax and
wings. In August 2001, our MFI