Design of an Electromagnetic Actuator for an Insect-Scale Spinning-Wing Robot

Abstract

Here we present the design of an insect-scale electromagnetic actuator that can be used to spin wings and generate lift. This lift generation method is in contrast to most other microrobot designs at this size scale which rely on flapping wings to produce lift. The device has a wing span of 4 centimeters and weighs 133 milligrams. It spins its wings at 47 revolutions/second generating >138 milligrams of lift while consuming approximately 60 milliwatts of total power and operating at a low voltage (<; 3 V). Of the total power consumed 8.8 milliwatts is mechanical power generated, part of which goes towards spinning the wings, and 51 milliwatts is wasted in resistive Joule heating. With a lift-to-power ratio of 2.3 grams/W, its performance is at par with the best reported flapping wing devices at the insect-scale.