This project is conducted in support of the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Micro Air Vehicle (MAV) Program, which involves fundamental research and development of aerodynamics and airframes for novel concepts in unconventional miniature aircraft design. MAVs generally have a wingspan of less than two feet and weigh less than a pound. These aircraft are expected to perform useful surveillance missions.

The FY05 effort continued the development of the Samara aircraft concept. The Samara is a stop-rotor aircraft that combines the vertical ascent/descent capabilities of a helicopter with the speed and aerodynamic efficiencies of a fixed wing airplane. Enhanced performance of this type of aircraft is being explored with the development of Samara II. The improvements include controlled hover ability, simplified stability controls, and a more compact geometry. Samara II began first flight tests near the close of FY05.

During FY05, efforts continued in the development of a more robust, controllable, and reliable version of the Biplane Insectoid Travel Engine (BITE-Wing) aircraft. During FY05 prototypes were tested using vectored thrust on the lower rear wing, increasing control authority. The addition of a small amount of wing dihedral has dramatically increased flight stability. Construction of new BITE-Wing air vehicles began in FY05 incorporated these improvements with more power and more damage resistance. Tests of these newer versions will begin in FY06.

The Samara, BITE-Wing, and other new vehicle efforts are part of the ongoing NRL Survivable Autonomous Mobile Platform, Long Endurance (SAMPLE) project. These vehicles must be able to move in two or more modes of locomotion, including flight, crawling, hopping, and swimming. They are also expected to carry out extended missions in a variety of environments.