Bendable wing for micro air vehicle

Abstract

A micro air vehicle having a bendable wing enabling the micro air vehicle to fly. The bendable wing may be bent downwards so that the wingspan may be reduced for storing the micro air vehicle. The bendable wing may be formed from one or more layers of material, and the wing may have a camber such that a concave surface of the wing faces downward. The wing may substantially resist flexing upwards and may transfer uplift forces to a central body of the micro air vehicle. In addition, the wing may be bent severely downwards by applying a force to tips of the wing. The micro air vehicle is capable of being stored in a small cylindrical tube and may be deployed from the tube by simply releasing the micro air vehicle from the tube.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A wing for a micro air vehicle, comprising: 
 at least one layer of a resilient material having a camber forming a concave surface facing downward;    wherein the wing is bendable from a steady state position in a first direction such that tips of the wing may be bent toward the concave surface but not substantially in a second direction that is generally opposite to the first direction; and    wherein the wing is capable of returning to the steady state position by releasing the tips of the wing.    
     
     
         2 . The wing for a micro air vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one layer of a resilient material comprises a leading edge formed from a first material that is different from the material forming a remainder of the at least one layer.  
     
     
         3 . The wing for a micro air vehicle of  claim 2 , wherein the leading edge is formed from an aramid fiber/epoxy mixture and at least a portion of the remainder of the at least one layer is formed from a mixture of carbon fiber and epoxy.  
     
     
         4 . The wing for a micro air vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one layer of a resilient material is formed from pre-impregnated carbon/epoxy fiber cloth.  
     
     
         5 . The wing for a micro air vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one layer of a resilient material is formed from an aramid fiber/epoxy mixture.  
     
     
         6 . The wing for a micro air vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one layer of a resilient material is formed from materials selected from the group consisting of fiber reinforced laminates, sheet metal, foam materials, and plastics.  
     
     
         7 . The wing for a micro air vehicle of  claim 6 , wherein the fiber reinforced laminates are selected from the group consisting of carbon fiber reinforced polymers, glass reinforced polymers, and aramid reinforced polymers.  
     
     
         8 . The wing for a micro air vehicle of  claim 6 , wherein the sheet metal is selected from the group consisting of spring steel, aluminum, stainless steel, and titanium.  
     
     
         9 . The wing for a micro air vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein a wing span of the wing is between about three inches and about twenty four inches.  
     
     
         10 . The wing for a micro air vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the wing is capable of being bent around a central body of a micro air vehicle so that the micro air vehicle including the wing may fit within a tube having a diameter of about three inches.  
     
     
         11 . The wing for a micro air vehicle of  claim 1 , further comprising a riser section forming a concave portion on an upper surface of the wing proximate to a trailing edge of the wing.  
     
     
         12 . A micro air vehicle, comprising: 
 a central body;    a wing attached to the central body, wherein the wing comprises: 
 at least one layer of a resilient material having a camber forming a concave surface facing downward;  
 wherein the wing is bendable from a steady state position in a first direction such that tips of the wing may be bent toward the concave surface but not substantially in a second direction that is generally opposite to the first direction; and  
 wherein the wing is capable of returning to the steady state position by releasing the tips of the wing.  
   
     
     
         13 . The micro air vehicle of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one layer of a resilient material comprises a leading edge formed from a first material that is different from the material forming a remainder of the at least one layer.  
     
     
         14 . The micro air vehicle of  claim 13 , wherein the leading edge is formed from an aramid fiber/epoxy mixture and at least a portion of the remainder of the at least one layer is formed from a mixture of carbon fiber and epoxy.  
     
     
         15 . The micro air vehicle of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one layer of a resilient material is formed from pre-impregnated carbon/epoxy fiber cloth.  
     
     
         16 . The micro air vehicle of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one layer of a resilient material is formed from an aramid fiber/epoxy mixture.  
     
     
         17 . The micro air vehicle of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one layer of a resilient material is formed from materials selected from the group consisting of fiber reinforced laminates, sheet metal, foam materials, and plastics.  
     
     
         18 . The micro air vehicle of  claim 17 , wherein the fiber reinforced laminates are selected from the group consisting of carbon fiber reinforced polymers, glass reinforced polymers, and aramid reinforced polymers.  
     
     
         19 . The micro air vehicle of  claim 17 , wherein the sheet metal is selected from the group consisting of spring steel, aluminum, stainless steel, and titanium.  
     
     
         20 . The micro air vehicle of  claim 12 , wherein a wing span of the wing is between about three inches and about twenty four inches.  
     
     
         21 . The micro air vehicle of  claim 12 , wherein the wing is capable of being bent around a central body of a micro air vehicle so that the micro air vehicle including the wing may fit within a tube having a diameter of about three inches.  
     
     
         22 . The micro air vehicle of  claim 12 , further comprising a riser section forming a concave portion on an upper surface of the wing proximate to a trailing edge of the wing.  
     
     
         23 . The micro air vehicle of  claim 12 , further comprising a tail coupled to the central body that is generally orthogonal to the wing.  
     
     
         24 . The micro air vehicle of  claim 12 , further comprising a tail coupled to the central body that is generally vertical to the wing.  
     
     
         25 . A wing for a micro air vehicle, comprising: 
 a support structure forming an outline of the wing including a leading edge, a trailing edge, and wing tips;    at least one layer of a material attached to the support structure forming a surface of the wing and having a camber forming a concave surface facing downward;    wherein the wing is bendable from a steady state position in a first direction such that tips of the wing may be bent toward the concave surface but not substantially in a second direction that is generally opposite to the first direction; and    wherein the wing is capable of returning to the steady state position by releasing the tips of the wing.    
     
     
         26 . A wing for a micro air vehicle of  claim 25 , wherein the support structure is formed from a plurality of ribs.  
     
     
         27 . A wing for a micro air vehicle of  claim 26 , wherein the plurality of ribs are formed from carbon fiber strands.  
     
     
         28 . A wing for a micro air vehicle of  claim 25 , wherein the at least one material is comprised of latex.  
     
     
         29 . The wing for a micro air vehicle of  claim 25 , wherein a wing span of the wing is between about three inches and about twenty four inches.  
     
     
         30 . The wing for a micro air vehicle of  claim 25 , wherein the wing is capable of being bent around a central body of a micro air vehicle so that the micro air vehicle including the wing may fit within a tube having a diameter of about three inches.  
     
     
         31 . The wing for a micro air vehicle of  claim 25 , further comprising a riser section forming a concave portion on an upper surface of the wing proximate to the trailing edge of the wing.