DRAGONE

Welcome to DRAGONE, a project where nature inspires cutting-edge engineering. Our mission was to design and create a flapping drone, an ornithopter, modelled after the flight mechanics of dragonflies. This innovative endeavour harmonises the elegance of nature's design with advanced engineering techniques.

As the Wings Team Lead, my role was pivotal in developing the drone's wings. We began by dissecting the flight patterns of dragonflies and translating these intricate movements into functional, 3D-printable designs. To replicate the delicate yet resilient structure of dragonfly wings, we used a lamination sheet as a membrane during the 3D printing process. This added layer ensured both accuracy and flexibility.

In addition to the Wings Team, other groups focused on designing the flapping mechanism, tail, and body of the drone. Together, we worked to transform this ambitious idea into reality, merging inspiration from the natural world with advanced engineering solutions.

Wing Designs:

Testing Wing Deformations:

To explore the potential for introducing corrugation in the wings, we used a heat gun to deform the printed wings. This method was not intended to precisely replicate the natural corrugation of dragonfly wings, but rather to test whether this approach could be viable in future iterations of the design. The goal was to assess if we could introduce the necessary curvature and flexibility to enhance the aerodynamic and structural properties of the wings once the optimal design was selected.

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