Bio-inspired Wind Turbine Flapping Its Wings

At the conference we were demonstrating how bumblebees flap their wings. This first prototype was just for figuring out how to make the wings move in a figure eight motion and flip on each cycle. Our next challenge is to rotate the mechanism 90 degrees and to evaluate optimal wing designs that can drive the figure eight motion.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• wind
• propulsion
• hummingbird
• bumblebee
• generator
• perfect pitch 2009
• pitch
• richard branson

[vishwasuk]

Just came across this link on CNN.com. The model shown here, is it moving due to the wind there or due to the motor?

[pulsejet]

@vishwasuk - motion is due to a motor. we were just demonstrating how bumblebees flap their wings. In order to make this work in wind we would have to rotate the whole mechanism 90 degrees into the wind. We still have alot of challenges to make this work properly.

[pulsejet]

We're still researching and not making any claims about efficiency yet. Could be worse could be better. We just don't know yet.

[DIXZA]

so what is the eficiency of this design??