#1
Posted: 3/31/2011 16:17:55
The German automation company Festo has
perfected its SmartBird, a robotic seagull that depicts almost flawless mimicry
of a bird’s flight. An internal battery powers motors and cables that move the
head, body, tail, and wings. The wings can also twist from root to tip just
like a bird. The SmartBird can take off and land without external launching
devices. You can read more at Gizmag.
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#2
Posted: 4/1/2011 08:03:59
Pretty neat, especially the video of the actual model:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YGLZXEwRVc
But the model built for the movie Jonathan Livingston Seagull nearly 40 years ago looked more realistic.
Maybe Festo never heard of that one?
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/94/RC_Modeler_197311.jpg
kmisegades
#3
Posted: 4/17/2011 21:48:45
Yes, I loved Jonathan Livingston Seagull as well, but I should point out that the JLS R/C seagulls were only gliders and did not flap their wings.
That said there have been other wing flapping bird models in the past, but this is the most realistic R/c bird I've seen so far.
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