Last
time
we took a look at
the tiny robot plane being developed by a group of Swiss researchers in Lausanne, the micro-flyer had a wingspan of
just 31 inches and weighed about an ounce. But the developers vowed to produce a version with a wingspan half as long,
and sure enough, they've gone and done it. The latest edition has a 14-inch wingspan and weighs about a third of an
ounce. Like its predecessor, it takes its inspiration from the insect world, and is able to fly indoors autonomously,
and includes tiny wing-mounted cameras and a gyroscopic stabilizer. Now, the developers have set the bar higher for the
next version: they're shooting for a housefly-sized flyer. Let us know when it's ready. In the meantime, we are so ready
to take this one for a spin.
posted Apr 11th 2006 4:11PM
Great... go ahead and plug me into the Matrix and get it over with...
Can't wait for the house fly size one. Glue a micro tazer under it, and go hunting for house flies }=]
Skynet has become self-aware!
looks like thre will be more than one thing with a puny brain in the white house...
Yes, but will it carry 200 passengers from New York's Idlewild Airport to the Belgian Congo in seventeen minutes?
>7 x 7-meter (75 x 75-foot)
uhh yeah
talk about fly sized brain
Well, now i can spy my friends from up their houses.
The only thing i need is a mini camera
http://www.resumengadget.cjb.net/
Here is a link to Wikipedia (France) describing the lead on the project http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Daniel_Nicoud
It appears that he dislikes high level languages to the extent that he developed some sort of "Common Assembly Language" codenamed "CALM".
This winged monitoring device feels very Neal Stephenson.
is it just me that thinks that there is nothing spectacular about a 14 let alone 31 inch wingspan? i mean i am thinking that 31 inches is like a meter long or there abouts, and 14 inches like 35-40cm? i am sure i have seen kits that can build similar planes in hobbystores, or is it just the fact it can fly about by itself?
chaz
This is darn neato. how much and how do I view whats on those cameras :)
3/4 of an ounce????? Seems impossible.
Great! I want to order one. Where can I buy them? I looked all over the internet for a sales address. Maybe a good idea to post the contact details in the article!
Nice blog!
Now THAT is pretty nifty - does anyone have the knowledge of how much this flybot baby costs? I cannot wait until it reveloutionizes into a micro one - though I would start disliking it if it goes too much out of hand for competing for "microness"