Towards the Self Deploying Microglider; Gliding Flight and Bioinspired Wing Folding Mechanism

The Self Deploying Microglider project aims at developing a novel palm sized robot that can climb up walls, deploy itself into the air, recover from every position in air and perform subsequent goal directed gliding and attachment to walls. So far, we developed a 1.5g SMA actuated Microglider that can perform phototaxis, a 4.5g wing folding mechanism that allows for very quick unfolding (50msec) of the wings and a 7g jumping mechanism that can jump up to 27.6times its size (corresponds to 1.4m). The applications of this novel platform are widespread and can include sensory networks for environmental monitoring, disaster relief or be used for planetary exploration. Please visit our website for further information, pictures and videos.