M Vejdani Jahromi - Graduate student Mechanical Engineering Department,Amirkabir University of Technology (AUT), Tehran, Iran
F Barazandeh - Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering Department of Amirkabir University of Technology
M Bahrami - Professor, Mechanical Engineering Department of Amirkabir University of Technology

This paper presents an investigation of utilizing microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) actuators in developing insect-like micro aerial vehicles (MAVs). Character-istics of biological insects and their flight specifications have been reviewed. Re-quired attributes for a successful flight have been achieved. Design constraints of the locomotory unit as the main unit of a flapping insect robot is investigated and the per-formance of all classes of MEMS actuators is compared. Five classes of actuators are identified as the suitable candidates according to their performance characteris-tics. Advantages and disadvantages of these five classes are explored.

MEMS, MAV, Actuator, Flapping mechanism