A Robot. Flies Like a Bird........

[Stilldrillin]

I've never seen successful flapping flight before.......

David D

[AussieJimG]

What a wonderful machine! Thank you for that. 

Jim

[Deko]

Superb,   Thanks for that David 

Cheers Derek

[PekkaNF]

OK. Festo Smat Bird it is:

Pekka

[AussieJimG]

I keep thinking about it and it looks too simple to be true. It is certainly graceful and it can propel itself but I would like to see it fly outside before I believe that it is really providing lift, propulsion and control.

What do you think? Am I just being overly suspicious?

Jim

[Stilldrillin]

Jim.
There's a lot of background work gone into it....... If it is only a wind up..... 

http://www.festo.com/cms/en_corp/index.htm

David D

[loply]

I keep thinking about it and it looks too simple to be true. It is certainly graceful and it can propel itself but I would like to see it fly outside before I believe that it is really providing lift, propulsion and control.

What do you think? Am I just being overly suspicious?

Jim

He does say it's only for in door use.

Given it's surface area and weight (400g) the slightest breeze would have a big impact on it. Compensation without getting all screwy would be a sophisticated fly by wire type exercise.

I suspect to keep the weight down the battery life is minimal too.

Impressive non the less.

[kd0afk]

It's called an ornithopter. I have plans on my hard drive to make one. It would be awesome if Festo would incorporate it's air muscles into this design.

[AussieJimG]

Should be a great build kd0afk, are you intending to include RC flight? In any case, please do a build log 

Jim