Here’s a very birdlike ornithopter.
According to Alex Knapp of the Forbes Blog:
This bionic technology-bearer, which is inspired by the herring gull, can start, fly and land autonomously – with no additional drive mechanism. Its wings not only beat up and down, but also twist at specific angles. This is made possible by an active articulated torsional drive unit, which in combination with a complex control system attains an unprecedented level of efficiency in flight operation. Festo has thus succeeded for the first time in creating an energy-efficient technical adaptation of this model from nature.
These hovering platforms act as ping-pong paddles to juggle balls in mid-air.
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Previously on GJ:
Human powered ornithopter
Insect Vehicles
Utopiales Poster, Part 1
