Influence of MAV characteristics on their applications

Abstract

Micro Air Vehicles (MAVs) are an emerging class of unmanned flying vehicles envisaged for direct reconnaissance easy in handling and transport even by single operator. Teams all over the world are developing several different configurations. Each of the configurations exhibits a different set of characteristics. On the other hand, MAVs are expected to serve many different applications and fulfil requirements that sometimes exclude each other. This paper presents the most important characteristics and constraints of fixed wing airplanes, rotary aircraft, and entomopters and show how they fit certain requirements.

First Published Online: 14 Oct 2010