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The Chinese military's top drone-makers have built a new robotic bird that they say could have far-reaching applications, state media said.
Images aired on Saturday showed the ornithopter dubbed "Little Falcon" taking flight during a recent test in Xi'an, capital city of China's northwestern Shaanxi province. A national news outlet described it as "the most agile and lifelike" bird-like drone anywhere in the world, and likely to lead the research in the field for years to come.
For centuries, inventors have looked to birds for inspiration to create ornithopters—machines that achieve lift by flapping wings—chiefly for the purpose of human flight. In director Denis Villeneuve's adaptation of the Dune series, characters also use ornithopters as a means of travel. The aircraft take off and land using flapping wings, which can fold back onto the fuselage to facilitate a rapid descent, much like the targeted dive of a bird of prey.
The team of researchers at Northwestern Polytechnical University, however, had a different vision for their ornithopter. It is a smaller, unmanned aerial vehicle that can serve multiple functions, including for the Chinese People's Liberation Army.
www.newsweek.com
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This sounds like Newsweek is spreading some Chinese progoganda... but on the other hand.... Bird Drone is pretty cool!
Images aired on Saturday showed the ornithopter dubbed "Little Falcon" taking flight during a recent test in Xi'an, capital city of China's northwestern Shaanxi province. A national news outlet described it as "the most agile and lifelike" bird-like drone anywhere in the world, and likely to lead the research in the field for years to come.
For centuries, inventors have looked to birds for inspiration to create ornithopters—machines that achieve lift by flapping wings—chiefly for the purpose of human flight. In director Denis Villeneuve's adaptation of the Dune series, characters also use ornithopters as a means of travel. The aircraft take off and land using flapping wings, which can fold back onto the fuselage to facilitate a rapid descent, much like the targeted dive of a bird of prey.
The team of researchers at Northwestern Polytechnical University, however, had a different vision for their ornithopter. It is a smaller, unmanned aerial vehicle that can serve multiple functions, including for the Chinese People's Liberation Army.
China debuts drone game-changer
A research institution with close ties to the Chinese military has introduced a potential new weapon.
www.newsweek.com
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This sounds like Newsweek is spreading some Chinese progoganda... but on the other hand.... Bird Drone is pretty cool!
