Overview of research status and key technologies of bionic flapping wing aircraft

The design of bionic flapping-wing aircraft, drawing inspiration from birds and insects’ aerodynamic traits and flapping patterns, exhibits distinct advantages at low Reynolds numbers—a limitation of conventional fixed-wing and rotorcraft. Hummingbirds, renowned for their hovering, forward, and backward flight capabilities, inspire military and other applications seeking both performance and concealment. This paper summarizes research progress and key technologies in bionic flapping-wing aircraft, focusing on bird flight mechanisms and the design of hummingbird-mimicking aircraft. Key mechanisms like delayed stall, added mass effect, and wake capture are highlighted. The paper also outlines design considerations and identifies key bottlenecks and future trends in this exciting field.