The project, named “A hybrid driven robotic fly with artificial muscles and electromagnets” under the National High-tech R&D Program of China (the 863 Program) has got technical acceptance organized by the High Technology Research and Development Center of the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China (MOST). Shenyang Institute of Automation (SIA), Chinese academy of Sciences (CAS) undertook the project, coordinated by Academy of Mathematics and Systems Science, CAS, and Shanghai Jiaotong University.

Prototypes of two typical micro flapping wing air vehicles, i.e., robotic fly and robotic dragonfly, were developed. The micro air vehicles are highly efficient, flexible and can disguise themselves easily, with shapes strongly resembling the two insects. Micro piezoelectric and electromagnet actuator design, hydrokinetics analysis, MEMS processing technique, low power consumption control system, light weight and high rigidity structure design, as well as system integration technology were studied in depth. The research results all reached leading level in the world, laying solid foundation for the realization of micro flapping wing air vehicle application platform with actual application function.  (Dai Tianjiao)