Robot which flies like a Bird - Police shows interest but...

ANCHOR:
The revolutionary RoboSwift is the creation of Delft University's Technology department. What has got them really excited is the fact that, unlike similar engines, this tiny, life-size mechanical bird can move its wings backwards. Here's why the team's so excited.

STORY:
This little guy is super-efficient and looks like a real bird in the sky. His special 'morphing wings' were developed with the help of the Experimental Zoology department of Wageningen University.

During its lifetime, a common swift flies the equivalent of five times the distance to the Moon and back.

Developer David Lentink says the reason for the swift's stealth is that the bird is constantly adjusting or 'morphing' its wings which makes for more efficient flying. And so they applied the same principle to their own contraption.

One student who worked on the project says its not the first robotic aircraft ever. But its wing technology makes it one of a kind.

Although there are some military aircraft - such as the F14 Tomcat and the English-German Tornado - which are equipped with so-called swing wings, none of them significantly reduce the surface area of the wing. That means they miss out on the benefits of 'morphing.' Also, these aircraft do not steer by means of the variable wing shape.
[Abishek Sahai, Student Developer]:
"There are some people in Florida who are working also on morphing, but they are more in twisting of the wings like a seagull and different birds, but morphing that we use, the sweep-back with area reduction, that is actually unique, nowhere else in the world it's been done."

The project is sponsored by the Dutch police force who hope to use it to monitor potentially volatile crowds thanks to the little cameras attached to it.

But as advanced as the RoboSwift is, it still has a problem of crashing into trees.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• NTDTV
• RoboCop
• Future
• technology
• flying
• like
• bird
• crashes
• police
• electronics
• aviation
• space

[MrSkinless]

MONITORING. BIG BROTHER. I think these are the only key words that came out of this.

YAY let's just assign robots to each individual and if they catch you doing a crime you go in the slammer! Good idea let's make a bird... To spy on people.. ffs

[noncompliant2]

you are so ignorant.....

[Teeheehee093]

Laserbeak!

[Cnupoc]

ye if i was a criminal that bird looking thing making this noise would be something purely ordinary....

STUPID AS THEY WILL EVER BE !

[adrianokeeffe]

have to agree - whats the point of that - how much money wasted on its development -

Craig Venter - theres a guy who is doing amazing work for USEFUL technoligy's

nerds

[elvisiswax]

this is shit !! typical uni knobs wasting oxegen and everyone elses time and money ,GET A LIFE!!!!!!!! and a real job

[shadowfox544]

This looks interesting, but it certainly isn't "revolutionary". The only bird-like thing about it is moving the wings back, and that in itself isn't groundbreaking at all for aeronautics. Flight from flapping wings would be groundbreaking, but difficult. If it could at least just flap the wings to appear as a bird (while still propeller-powered), then it would worth attention. If it's "quite uncontrollable", I don't see why its so exciting.

[cdaytonago2]

Yea that's cool, just have something u can barely see record every move you make. That sounds great!!! People need too wake up. The military will be robotic. It will save lives right? Sky net anyone? If you haven't seen the robocop video it's to the side.

[yankees1997fanatic]

wow i would love to have one of those now thats cool!!!

[garyplesko]

Paul Scheer @ 1:41 ?

[jordinlovesnathan]

(continued...again...lol)

Lastly, why would you wait for the balance of power to shift so much that a "revolution" (that likely wouldn't even be possible) is NEEDED? Why not speak your mind now? Oh, cause you "don't think you'll be alive to see it happen" and "don't care?"

What a wonderful perspective! You'll be happy to leave the possibility open for potential future tyrants to rule over your grandkids or great-grandkids?

Think about it and be vigilant with your heart and mind.