Implementation of Biomimicry in Military Unmanned

Aerial Vehicle (UAV)

Aerospace engineering is the most challenging engineering domain of all. Where designing the
strongest yet the lightest airframe is not only the biggest challenge but also the biggest
expense.
Through this project we have challenged that problem and taken a different angle to find its
solution. We have used biomimicry for designing the airframe of an UAV, whose end purpose is
military scouting and surveillance. Biomimicry is the methodology of designing and production
of structures and materials modelled on biological entities and processes.
The bones are one of the strongest yet lightest structural elements in nature. Hence we decided
to model our airframe based on bones, especially the femur bone which is the longest bone but
can still resist a load of 1000 kg along its length.
For implementing biomimicry in our UAV frame we are using two state of the art technologies
i.e. topological optimization and 3D printing.
Topological optimization is the engineering technique which uses mathematical models based
on the Wolffs law of bone remodeling and helps generate a load and stress based density
variable density, to produce the least weight maximum strength structure. 3D printing aids
topological optimization by removing the manufacturing constraints hence helping in the
printing of the most optimized and supreme design.
Implementation of biomimicry can help us build amazingly strong yet light airframes for our
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), and we intend to use this for military surveillance as that is
the place we believe this technology will serve its purpose.