Micro Aerial Vehicle - Capacities and Restrictions - Coursework Example

s School Micro Air Vehicle Micro Air Vehicle also known as Micro Aerial Vehicle (MAV) is an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) miniature aircraft and the most modern models are as small as about 15cm in length. Due to the small size of the aircraft, it can be used for a variety of functions predominantly surveillance while it can also be used for military purposes, police uses, research purposes or other governmental uses owing much to the technological innovation which the UAV allows. Available in different models, for instance, insect-like model, fixed-wings model, rotary wing model etc, this UAV can prove to be a great technological field to explore from the career point of view as its multidimensional applications diversify its uses and applications allowing various organization to utilize the invention. The way forward to this invention seems very promising yet appealing; thus engineering students should address this field as a long term career development initiative given the scope of the aircraft. Micro Air Vehicle, as the name indicates, is a mini aerodynamic vehicle or an aircraft with the unique property of being small in size. This unique invention is important to be studied from various perspectives, especially for the engineering students, because the future holds effective utilization of this power tool which will be used for various purposes. The paper aims at addressing the UAV from all aspects to rectify the significance and distinctive properties of the device, since the device can be used for interesting activities including surveillance or mapping services to locate individuals and activities for top secret missions. Thus, the engineers and researchers in the field should already get aware of the future benefit of this device and thus should start developing expertise in the area so that their skills can be utilized effectively in the future. Also, MAVs is a great topic area to be addressed due to the elements of exclusivity and innovation attached with the device, thus the researchers can do wonders with the device. Micro Air Vehicle is an unmanned device being popular for its remarkably small size, yet exhibiting properties similar to any other air vehicle. Recently the research regarding the MAVs is going on in the areas of fast responsive and non-linear control system associated with the vehicles along with the nano-structures and the propeller lift mechanisms associated with the device. Yet, the scientists have been successful in designing the most modern MAV almost as small as 15 cm or in other words about 6 inches long which is an exceptionally small size (Keating 2002). Given the properties associated with the vehicle, it can be sent at highly hazardous location where it is otherwise difficult of impossible for a normal sized aircraft to go. Also, it can be used as a surveillance device or a mapping device, thus if a camera is attached with the vehicle various functions can be performed with the help of the MAV. Thus, many departments and organizations can find this device useful. Governmental rescue missions or rather search missions can successfully be conducted through the MAVs, also military operations can be made easy by tracking locations and conducting surveillance activities, thus these departments have now stated using the technology for their advantage. Similarly, other departments can use this vehicle for research and other purposes. With the increasing demand of these MAVs, the investment is also increasing to conceive these in varying designs and types to be utilized for diversifying needs. There are many different kinds of MAVs already present, though the process of research is still an ongoing one. Some of the types of MAVs include fixed wing models, flapping wings model and the rotary wings model, since the action of the wings determine the motion of the MAV. Thus, the researchers now understand the activity of the flapping of the wings or the flight mechanisms associated with insects to determine the motion of these MAVs (Floreano 2009). Thus, to add innovation and value to the invention, the researchers are now studying the biological setup of the birds and the insects to come up with more credible MAV models. The miniature model of the MAVs i.e. almost the size of 102 or 103 can prove to be very helpful as new ventures will be explored. Most importantly, the surveillance purposes can be further used to avoid war like situations by knowing the situations beforehand. Also, activities like drug seizers and searches of weapons can be made easy by virtue of this invention. Similarly, these can be used as surveillance cameras at high profile places, also whenever scientists plan at setting an aerodynamic platform to hold innovative activities for building master pieces of science, reaching there and observation won`t be as big of an issue. Thus, these perspectives must interest the researchers and ambitious engineers to a great extent as they have a huge margin to further develop masterpieces out of the invention to seek acclaim and high regard in their fields. For this reason, MAVs are regarded as a significant discovery in the field. There are many practical applications of the device which has already been conceived while the process is yet an ongoing one. For instance, the Tamkang University in Taiwan has developed its use in the flights to compute the flight altitude which was previously being done by heavy and costly machinery. Delfy Micro is another application which has successfully been tested indoors, as it constitutes a remote control along with the device to monitor activities. Also, a dragonfly has also been modeled on the invention to undergo similar activities (Schwerzel 1997). In future, these can be used in areas as diverse as air space monitoring and evaluation; also these can be used with satellites to further transform the world into a global community rather than a global village, if some of the limitations are addressed successfully. Thus, the researchers should take the lead and get fully involved into the process of contributing for the further wellbeing of the planet. The information explored while studying for this project was very enlightening as studying the development and the functions of this device proved to be an inspiration as a student of engineering. Engineers are more of dreamers as they imagine inventions which the world could not even think of, thus such innovative inventions motivate the engineers towards thinking about the impossible. Also, studying this vehicle in itself opened new doors, as many areas in the field are yet unexplored and there is a high margin to learn and contribute. For instance, while researching for the paper, I came across various limitations including control issues and the telecommunication issues which are clashing with the small size of the device, which gave me a perspective to find new ways of problem solving within the field. For this reason, I would strongly encourage other engineering students as well to get engaged with the project and keep themselves updated about the recent developments going on in the field, so that they can fill the gaps wherever they find necessary. On a personal level this paper will help me a lot from the career perspective as I have realized that there is a lot of scope in the future in this field, thus if I develop expertise in this particular technology my market demand will automatically increase. For anyone aiming at conducting further research in the area, I would strongly suggest studying the limitations of the projects involved and thinking out of the box to solve their problems, as the companies would need such innovative minds in future, which every engineer should keep in his mind. Bibliography Schwerzel, Robert E, Sam Blankenship, Joy Laskar, and Thomas R. Collins. Proceedings of the First International Conference on Emerging Technologies for Micro Air Vehicles, Held at Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, 19-20 February 1997. Atlanta, Ga: Georgia Inst. of Tech, 1997. Print. Floreano, D. (2009). Flying insects and robots. Berlin: Springer-Verlag. Keating, H. A., Defence Science and Technology Organisation (Australia), & Aeronautical and Maritime Research Laboratory (Australia). (2002). A literature review on bounding flight in birds with applications to micro uninhabited air vehicles. Melbourne, Vic: DSTO Aeronautical and Maritime Research Laboratory. Read More