• Flapping-wing robo-bird uses two tails to fly fast or slow Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Reddit Flipboard Email Many readers will remember theMetaFly, a remote-control robotic insect that flies by actually flapping its wings. • Well, its inventor is back with a much more capable robotic swift (you know, the bird), which is currently on Kickstarter. • Like the MetaFly and theBionic Birdbefore it, The Swift was created by French aeronautical engineer Edwin Van Ruymbeke. • And yes, just like its two predecessors - and like otherornithopters- it does indeed fly by flapping its wings. • It’s controlled via an iOS/Android smartphone app. • But what makes The Swift so special?
Article Summaries:
- A new ornithopter, “The Swift,” is now on Kickstarter. Designed by French aeronautical engineer Edwin Van Ruymbeke, the 10.9‑gram robot flies by flapping its wings and is controlled via a smartphone app. Its key feature is two interchangeable tails: a Speed tail that allows up to 31 km/h (19 mph) and a Precision tail that keeps the bird stable at as low as 3.5 km/h (2 mph), enabling indoor flight. The device offers five adjustable settings per tail, 10-12 minutes of battery life, and a 150‑meter control range. An optional capacitive joystick attachment (X‑Play) turns a phone into a remote. Pledges start at €109, with a retail price of €156.
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