Re: Robot gull

[Lee Hall <paleeoguy@gmail.com>]

Here's a direct link to the "Smart Bird" info page:
http://www.festo.com/cms/en_corp/11369_11439.htm#id_11439

Lee Hall
Paleontology Undergraduate
Museum of the Rockies
Montana State University
Bozeman, MT
lhall@montana.edu
http://sites.google.com/site/leehallpaleo/Home




On Wed, Mar 30, 2011 at 12:22 PM, Habib, Michael <MHabib@chatham.edu> wrote:
> A friend and fellow pterosaur-workeer sent a link to the same video; it is 
> mighty impressive.
>
> The only note I have, from a biological perspective, is that either the 
> description of the dynamics in the article is inaccurate, or the robot is not 
> flying altogether as much like a bird as it appears.  In particular, the tail 
> in real birds does not act much like a rudder - the tail on the robot could 
> be more akin to an airplane tail in its function (likely), or it could be 
> that the writer on the press release misunderstood (also likely).  Either 
> way, the take off is obviously not like a real animal.  Still, the flapping 
> mechanics seem to be pretty close in many respects, and it is quite an 
> achievement, regardless.
>
> Cheers,
>
> --Mike H.
>
> On Mar 30, 2011, at 12:11 PM, Richard W. Travsky wrote:
>
>>
>> Very interesting video
>>
>> http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/nstv/2011/03/robot-bird-soars-through-the-sky.html
>> ...
>> SmartBird is modelled on the herring gull and can take off, fly and land
>> while its flight is controlled remotely from the ground in real time.
>>
>> To take off, the robotic bird flaps its wings with the help of an onboard
>> motor. As the wings beat, the front edge also twists, enabling airflow
>> along the wings to generate thrust. Once in flight, the tail acts as a
>> rudder to steer the bird through the air.
>> ...
>>
>
> Michael Habib
> Assistant Professor of Biology
> Chatham University
> Woodland Road, Pittsburgh PA  15232
> Buhl Hall, Room 226A
> mhabib@chatham.edu
> (443) 280-0181
>
>