Research

Educational Content

The ornithopter project has provided numerous thesis topics for students. The scope and complexity of the problem has encompassed, for example, theoretical and experimental studies of unsteady aerodynamics, aeroelastic tailoring, and flight dynamics. Theses addressing these, and other related topics, are listed below:

Ph.D
"A Non-linear Model for the Study of Flapping-Wing Flight" by Rambod Larijani, 2000.

M.A.Sc.
"The Testing and Modification of a Full-Scale Ornithopter" by Bruce Fenton, 1999.

"The Structural Testing and Modification of a Full-Scale Ornithopter's Wing Spars", by Felix Mehler, 1997.

"The Design and Development of a Wing for a Full-Scale Piloted Engine-Powered Flapping-Wing Aircraft (Ornithopter)" by Stuart Fowler, 1995.

"The Flight Dynamics of a Full-Scale Ornithopter" by Tahir Rashid, 1995.

"A Dynamic Analysis and Feasibility Study of a Full-Scale Ornithopter's Take-Off Procedure" by Todd Machacek, 1995.

B.A.Sc.
"Drag Testing of the Ultra-Light Ornithopter" by James Duffin, 1995.

"An Experimental Investigation into the Sliding Friction on the Shearflexing Ornithopter Wing" by Christopher Turner, 1995.

"Designing an Ornithopter Drive Train" by Constantin Tzmbelicos, 1994.

"Full-Scale Ornithopter Wing Design and Testing" by Mark Suppanz, 1994.

"Thrust Experiments on a Flapping Wing" by Henry Kwok, 1990.

"Design and Development of Optimized Ornithopter Wings" by Darius Mavalwala, 1989.

"A Study of the Aeroelastic Deformation of a Flexible Wing under a Dynamic Load" by Christopher Lewis, 1988.

Publications

This is a list of reviewed journal articles describing the theoretical and experimental research leading to the ornithopter's wing design.

A Nonlinear Aeroelastic Model for the Study of Flapping Wing Flight
(The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Inc., 2001)

The Development and Testing of a Full-Scale Ornithopter
(Canadian Aeronautics and Space Journal, June 1999)

An Ornithopter Wing Design
(Canadian Aeronautics and Space Journal, March 1994)

A Study of Mechanical Flapping-Wing Flight
(The Aeronautical Journal of the Royal Aeronautical Society, Oct 1993)

The Development of an Efficient Ornithopter Wing
(The Aeronautical Journal of the Royal Aeronautical Society, May 1993)

An Aerodynamic Model for Flapping-Wing Flight
(The Aeronautical Journal of the Royal Aeronautical Society, April 1993)