The ornithopter revisited

[lostcosmonauts]

Flying bird robot can soar so well it uses almost no power

An autonomous flying robot can float in place like a bird, using its throttle just 0.25 per cent of the time – which could make it useful for surveying a single spot for an extended period of time

www.newscientist.com

Well,… flying like a bird brain if not with the bird anatomy. Nice demo certainly, interesting to see if it can scale up

 

[lostcosmonauts]

[2308.00565] AOSoar: Autonomous Orographic Soaring of a Micro Air Vehicle

and

Scientists Build Drone That Seeks Air Currents Like a Bird, Flying With Almost No Power

A tiny little winged drone can soar with close to zero throttle, thanks to an impressive algorithm that responds to changing winds.

futurism.com

 

[Rhinocrates]

Nice demo certainly, interesting to see if it can scale up

There are uses for bird-sized drones, and ones disguised as birds. One of the things holding up their deployment has been battery weight and capacity. This would make them much more practical - and they might want to scale it down.

 

[Scott Kenny]

Flying bird robot can soar so well it uses almost no power

An autonomous flying robot can float in place like a bird, using its throttle just 0.25 per cent of the time – which could make it useful for surveying a single spot for an extended period of time

www.newscientist.com

Well,… flying like a bird brain if not with the bird anatomy. Nice demo certainly, interesting to see if it can scale up

Maybe, it would take a pretty long thin wing to work. I'm thinking Predator/Grey Eagle sized recon drone with solar panels on the top of the wings for recharging.

Not really an Ornithopter, though, the wings aren't flapping.

 

[lostcosmonauts]

True, I’d been alluding to trying fly by mimic the bird mind so the title is misleading

 

[Scott Kenny]

True, I’d been alluding to trying fly by mimic the bird mind so the title is misleading

Not that being able to soar like a bird isn't an impressive accomplishment, mind you!

 

[publiusr]

A pogo stick “leg” for launch useful?

Glide…bounce…glide…bounce