OVMI

OVMI project aims to create a bio-inspired Flapping Wing Nano Air Vehicle

Artiste view of OVMI prototype

OVMI project aims to manufacture nano air vehicle emulating insects aerial capacities. Towards this goal MEMS (Mircoelectromechanical System) technologies are used. Microsystems offer a size and weight reduction; they consume less energy and allow new horizons in terms of applications. NAV and all the drones in general are constantly increasing interest of scientists, industrialists and the military. The OVMI project is based on huge collaboration between the IEMN (Insitut d’Electronique, Microelectronique et Nanotechnology), the ONERA (The french aerospace lab), the LPPI (Laboratoire de Physico-chimie des Polymères et des Interfaces) and the ENSIAME (Ecole Nationale Supérieure d’Ingénieurs en Informatique Automatique Mécanique et Electronique), offering a wide field of expertise necessary to create nano air vehicle. Actually offering excellent prospects in terms of intelligence, telecommunications, surveillance and strategy. Organizations like the « Direction générale de l’armement » or the « Centre national de la recherche scientifique » and large universities (Berkeley, Harvard…) have already begun their developments. A lot of solutions have already emerged such as a drone inspired by the  flapping-wing flight of insects and birds. Indeed, this flapping wings provide several advantages compared to rotary or fixed wings such as hover or vertical takeoff . The purpose of these drones, often for relaying information through media such as video, explains the interest of this particular flight technique at the time of capture information.