Note that it's not using a standard servo. It would not be fast enough, and does not need all the servo travel anyway

Actually it kinda looks like an off-the-shelf sub micro servo. The picture is blurry, but you can make out the two mounting screws, what looks like a nylon control horn, and a sticker on the top of the servo case. Anyone have more info on this?

It wouldn't be beyond the realm of possibility that you could use one -- especially if over-volting it.

Assuming a rotor rpm of 2000 (a complete guess -- anyone feel free to provide a better estimate) The servo would have to go through a full flapping cycle 33 times a second. At 6.0V a sub-micro tail servo can go 60deg in 0.07s or 7.1 complete cycles in one second. If you were using less than a quarter of that range (which could be plenty) then you could flap every revolution.

This aside, the real difficulty is timing the servo. From what I've heard similar aircraft have used a magnetometer to do this.

Either way a fascinating aircraft and I definitely think it has a chance of finding a niche in the short range market because of how mechanically simple it and the camera hardware is.

Take a look at this PDF
http://www.atlanticinertial.com/imag...ance_paper.pdf

They make 25mm versions for infantry, hand-held cannons that precisely measure the distance to the desired object plus or minus a few inches over 500 yards distance using Mems oscillators and gyros.

This technology (mems) is fantastic and I would think that your suggestion of the earth magnetic field as a reference point is an excellent idea. Magnetic information plus the cannon mems (spin) information would work out for complete guidance system, much like 6 axis control boards for Quad copters, only with the added spin.

Lockheed has deeeeeep pocket, so it is hard to guess at what is really going on their control boards,

Regarding Servos: how about just deploying the servo every 5th rotations, or some other number of spins. No need to pulse the gyro for every revolution is there?

No need for a servo either, just use a solenoid coil, and pulse it on and off as required, this is very fast, light weight and simple.

Kelly

Here's an excellent article about "Mems". Many great drawings and other fine details, it's well worth the read.

Mems are the "Holy Grail" of Inertia Navigation according to this article.

http://read.pudn.com/downloads165/eb...y/13587_07.pdf

Kelly