Design a flapping wing drone inspired by the dragonfly. Current flapping wing drones have relatively simple wing designs. The project aims to incorporate some of the dragonfly "design features" to build a flying drone.

Dragonflies display highly efficient and manoeuvrable flight. Their wings are damage resilient and they utilise passive design features which allow their wings to alternately become stiff or flexible - depending on the load. This means the wing changes shape during flight without the use of muscles - quite cool!  

The engineering department at London Southbank University houses the Mechanical Intelligence Lab led by Dr Hamed Rajabi. It provides space to under and post graduate research into biomimetics (aka bioinspired design).

Research into current flapping drone designs and mechanisms present in dragonfly wings. Using 3D printing processes, CAD modelling and some more traditional methods like drawing and model aeroplane building, the group is incorporating the research into designs for the wings and flapping mechanism.

Under and post graduate students currently studying at LSBU, including visiting research students from overseas, who are part of the Mechanical Intelligence Lab.

The project started in the summer of 2022 and is now developing and growing into 2023/2024 with a new influx of students.