CHHAVI: A Bio-Inspired Autonomous Aerial Platform for Hazard Assessment and Visual Intelligence in Defence Applications

Abstract – This paper introduces CHHAVI—a bio-inspired, autonomous ornithopter designed for hazard assessment and visual intelligence in defense applications. Mimicking avian flight, CHHAVI uses flapping-wing locomotion for low-noise, camouflaged surveillance. It is built on a custom TriShakti architecture, integrating ESP32-S3, STM32F401, and RP2040 microcontrollers for distributed control, flight stability, and sensor fusion. The platform supports real-time telemetry, SWARM communication via ESP-NOW and LoRa, and features a blockchain-secured flight data logger for mission integrity. Preliminary testing confirms stable flight, perching, and autonomous operation, with ongoing validations for field deployment in military-grade reconnaissance. Keyword: - Bio-inspired robotics, Ornithopter, Autonomous aerial system, Hazard assessment, Visual intelligence, SWARM communication, ESP32-S3, STM32F401, RP2040, Mesh networking, Blockchain logging, Perching UAV, Military surveillance, Tactical reconnaissance, Tri-microcontroller architecture.