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 < In 1996 – 2000
DARPA initiated the Micro Air Vehicle (MAV) Program initiative,
seeking to develop and test emerging technologies that could
evolve into a mission capable flight system for military
surveillance and reconnaissance applications. The only requirement
was that the dimension of the vehicle should not exceed 15 cm. There
were no other restrictions on the design.
Inspired by the elegant aerodynamics of flying insects, University
of California (Berkeley) engineers responded with the development
of a flying robot
that weighs less than a paper clip. The micromechanical flying i nsect (MFI),
which is
 funded by ONR and DARPA, could be
used in future search, rescue, monitoring, and reconnaissance.
Another program is the Robofly, a stealth robotic flyer that is
about the size of a fly. Squads of roboflies may one day be
sent to seek out targets, collect and provide information on
damage assessment, or search for chemical and biological warfare
agents.
Many variations of
fixed wing, rotary wing and flapping flight concepts have all been
explored. Various systems evolved from the MAV program, but none
of the miniature (<15cm) vehicles devolved sofar into a full scale
program. Among the systems DARPA tested were the
Black Widow MAV –
a 50 gr. circular platform that could loiter on a mission for half
hour, and the Hoverfly VTOL 180 gr. vehicle, three axis stabilized
miniature vehicle that could cruise for 13 minutes and hover for 7 minutes.
 Another platform
which was recently tested by DARPA was the Wasp micro UAV – a 32
cm "flying wing" made of a plastic lithium-ion battery material
that provides both electrical power and wing structure. The wing
utilized the Telcordia synthetic battery material, that generates
an average output of more than nine watts during flight - enough
power to propel the miniature aircraft for one hour 47 minutes, a
world record for MAVs - more than three times the previous record
of 30 minutes set in the year 2000. Anoter design tested was the
180gr. The US Special Forces are already using micro UAV known as
TACMAV, weighing 340gr.
 In
2003 Israel also entered the development of micro UAVs, with the
first flight of the
Mosquito 1 micro UAV. The 205 gr. MAV flew several 40 minute
missions, equipped with a basic video camera. The design was
improved since and an enhanced system is scheduled for testing
later this year, equipped with autonomous flight capability and
improved sensors. Another design - MicroStar,
was developed by Sanders (currently BAE), demonstrated endurance of 30
minutes, at a mission range of up to 3 km, flying at altitudes of
50 – 300 feet. MicroStar was tested with both electric engine
powered by Lithium ion batteries, as well as a 9" diameter micro
turbine jet.
Possible missions
suggested for MAVs were squad-level combat, battle damage
assessment, air or artillery spotting, sensor dispersal,
communications relay, and detection of mines and hazardous
substances. MAVs could also be equipped with small jamming systems
to confuse radar or communications equipment at very short range.
MAVs capable of hovering and vertical flight would be used to
scout out buildings for urban combat and counter terrorist
operations. A MAV could also be included in a airman's survival
kit, used by a downed pilot to keep track of approaching enemy search parties,
or relay communications to search and rescue units. Follow-on to
the DARPA MAV program are the OAV.
The current phase of the DARPA
MAV program is the Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration (ACTD),
ongoing in 2004 – 2005. Its goal program is to further develop and
integrate MAV technologies into militarily useful and affordable
backpackable systems suitable for dismounted soldier, marine, and
special-forces missions. It will focus on the development of MAVs
to accomplish unique military missions, particularly with regard
to flight operations in restricted environments. The system will
provide the small unit with militarily useful, real-time combat
information of difficult to observe and/or distant areas or
objects in complex topographies such as mountainous terrain with
caves, heavily forested areas with dense foliage and triple canopy
jungle, confined spaces (often internal to buildings) and high
concentrations of civilians. The initial MAV technology
development program focused on the technologies and components
required to enable flight at small scales, including flight
control, power and propulsion, navigation and communications. The
MAV ACTD program has broadened the technology
development efforts, including
multi-purpose structures, advanced
communications and information systems, high performance computer
technology, Micro-electro-mechanical Systems (MEMS), advanced
sensors, advanced electronic packaging technologies, and
lightweight, efficient high-density power sources.
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