Design and Characterization of Millimeter-Scale Flapping Wings

The performance of millimeter-scale flapping wings is explored through optical measurement. Various designs of Micro- Electro-Mechanical-System (MEMS) wings with thin-film lead zirconate titanate (PZT) actuators have been fabricated. A detailed description of the four camera photogrammetry setup and software used for close range kinematic extraction is described. The created software is found to require minimal user interface while determining wing position to an uncertainty of about 0.14mm. Analysis of a single wing reveals a flap amplitude approaching an asymptotic limit of flap magnitude despite increases in actuation voltage and a lack of pitching response to actuation inputs.