Slashdot stories can be listened to in audio form via an RSS feed, as read by our own robotic overlord.

 


Forgot your password?
Close
typodupeerror
Robotics Hardware News

Flying Robot Bird Unveiled 152

Posted by samzenpus
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This discussion has been archived.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 More

Flying Robot Bird Unveiled

Comments Filter:

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

    by camperdave (969942) on Monday March 28, 2011 @12:37AM (#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.

Life is a game. Money is how we keep score. -- Ted Turner

Close