Development of a cyclogyro-based flying robot with variable attack angle mechanisms

We develop a cyclogyro-based flying robot with a new variable attack angle mechanism. Cyclogyro is a flying machine which is supported in the air by power-driven rotors, which rotate about a horizontal axis, like the paddle-wheels of a steamboat. Machines of this type have been designed by some companies, but there is no record of any successful flights. The new variable attack angle mechanism proposed in this paper has an eccentric (rotational) point in addition to a rotational point connecting to a motor. The variable attack angle mechanism is a kind of double crank mechanism consisting of the two different rotational points and wings. The main feature of the mechanism with the eccentric point is to be able to change attack of angles according to the wing positions (according to the rotational angles of the cyclogyro) without actuators. The mechanism generates enough lift force to fly. We determine design parameters (wing span, the number of wings and eccentric distance) of the flying robot through experiments. Experimental results show that the developed cyclogyro-based flying robot with the new variable attack angle mechanism can hover along a vertical guide.