The Mars environment, particularly the low atmospheric density, makes flight much more difficult than on Earth, requiring an aircraft to fly within a very low Reynolds number/high Mach number regime. A possible solution is the use of an entomopter, a mechanical flying machine utilizing insect flight characteristics. Their similar Reynolds number flight regime indicates air vehicle system potent...

This introductory chapter contains a short discussion of the topic of biomimetics with special emphasis on background and goals together with an overview of the book. Biomimetics is described as information transfer from biology to the engineering sciences. Methods and preconditions for this interdisciplinary scientific subject are mentioned briefly focusing on the educational issues and the pa...