DARPA has just released this video chronicling the development of a “hummingbird” flyer by Aerovironment from concept to prototype demonstration and introduction to the public.
A number of difficult design and engineering challenges were overcome in the course of the programme, particularly in the wing structure, propulsion and control actuators. Numerous complete prototypes were built and tested to assess and improve the performance of the systems shown in the video. The final prototype achieves the noteworthy milestone of 2-wing flapping hovering and fast forward flight with all power sources on the aircraft and all controls implemented through modulation of the wing strokes in a shape that resembles a real hummingbird and carries and on-board camera that relays video to the pilot in real time.
The Nano Air Vehicle (NAV) programme is developing an extremely small, ultra lightweight air vehicle system (less than 15 centimeters and less than 20 grams) with the potential to perform indoor and outdoor military missions. NAV is exploring novel, flapping wing and other configurations to provide warfighters with unprecedented capability during urban operations.
Source: DARPA -YouTube