Flying Robot Bird Unveiled - Slashdot

Slashdot

Flying Robot Bird Unveiled 152

Posted by samzenpus on Monday March 28, 2011 @12:36AM
from the getting-the-robot-worm dept.

mikejuk writes "Festo, well known for their biologically inspired robots, have a new creation called SmartBird. It is amazing to watch and all the more amazing when you realize that it flaps its wings and all of the control is via a torsion drive which twists the wings during each flap. The whole thing depends on the constant intervention of the software to keep it under control."

This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.

Flying Robot Bird Unveiled

Search 152 Comments Log In/Create an Account

Comments Filter:

What? No Feathers? (Score:5, Interesting)

by camperdave (969942) writes: on Monday March 28, 2011 @01:37AM (#35635508) Journal

Why do no ornithopters employ feather analogs? They all have solid wings. Flight feathers form a check valve, letting air through the wing on the upstroke, and capturing it on the downstroke. This arrangement allows the bird to put a lot less energy into the upstroke (and thus not lose as much altitude). With a solid wing, you wind up pushing the craft down on the upstroke almost as much as you lift it on the downstroke.

Parent Share
twitter facebook linkedin

There may be more comments in this discussion. Without JavaScript enabled, you might want to turn on Classic Discussion System in your preferences instead.

Mathemeticians stand on each other's shoulders while computer scientists stand on each other's toes. -- Richard Hamming