Military researchers working on flex-winged drones
Why is it that military researchers always seem to get the best toys? That certainly seems to be the case at the University of Florida, where military-funded researchers are working on a possible successor to the Air Force's unmanned Predator planes. The new drones, inspired by seagulls, feature shape-changing wings, designed to let the planes swoop into tight spaces like alleys and apartment balconies. Motors in the wings enable them to flex at their "elbows," executing a full upward or downward movement in 12 seconds. Project leader Rick Lind (pictured) also drew inspiration from the Wright brothers' early planes, which included flexible wings controlled by cables.
[Via Slashdot]
