Robot dragonfly gets outfitted with camera, plans to record uprising from every possible angle
By Donald Melanson 
posted July 23rd 2008 7:43PM
posted July 23rd 2008 7:43PM
The folks at the Technical University of Delft have already done their part for the robot cause by building a dragonfly-type bot, dubbed the DelFly Micro, with a wingspan of just four inches, but they've now gone one step further and strapped a tiny camera onto it. What's more, they've also developed some image recognition software that promises to let the bot recognize objects, which could potentially let it locate individuals in a disaster area, or sneak up behind you when you least suspect it. Of course, the researchers aren't satisfied with things just yet, and they're promising to make an even smaller DelFly Nano bot that'd have a two-inch wingspan and weigh just a single gram. Until then, you can check out the current model in action in the video after the break.
[Via Protein Feed]
[Via Protein Feed]
super super super
it does! lol!
And the first gust of wind....
...and the first gust of wind, they screamed, 'Jump, George! We'll catch you! Jump!'
This could be used for some very important research, like upskirts et al.
Im sure that women wouldnt even notice this HUGE noisy flapping robotic inscet going up there skirt!
I, for one, welcome out new robotic dragonfly overlords.
our*, even
Feel free to rank me lowest.
ok, i low ranked all 3 comments. hope everyone else does too.
fo shizzle
battery life? like 2 min?
but i would much prefer a minihelicopter, then you get a more stable view.
+1
How do they control where it goes? The potential is amazing..and a bit scarey..I guess I'm a bit paronoid but ...I' m also amazed .
I'm surprised it wasn't introduced as a kid's toy pet.
Danny Dunn, Invisible Boy!
Yup, was just thinking that. A book a good, what... 30 years ahead of it's time?
Hey Sinjinn- I never said it was "easy" and I would definately work on it myself, however im not a developer. I do know however that flapping wings are not ideal for stability. Why not a propeller like suggested earlier?
because dragonfly's dont use propellers
"I do know however that flapping wings are not ideal for stability."
Have you ever seen a real dragonfly? How about a hummingbird? Two of the best animals at hovering, both with flapping wings. Hummingbirds btw are by far the most agile fliers that I have ever seen.
Because propellers are horribly inefficient at that scale. They have trouble getting enough thrust to keep the thing aloft, let alone provide for maneuverability.
Flapping wings take advantage of a lot of the disadvantages of flight at that scale (such as using the large vortices to generate more lift), so there is merit in using them.
and last time I checked this WASNT a real dragonfly. Is the point of this device to be a device to possibly save lives or to be a dragonfly lookalike novelty? Think about it!
Ok cool article, but seriously...the whole "robot uprising" thing on EVERY F---ING article about anything remotely robotic is so 2007.
I would think a company like Silverlit ( micro heli makers) would jump on this in an instant. this could be the next big erm micro indoor r/c toy. that coupled with a night vision cam with image stabilization and you have a multi-million seller. I want one of these for sure. Have 3 of the Micro/havoc heli's. This would be great in the back yard on those clear nights. Make the neighbors think that UFO's are flying around their houses. Well kinda do already but this is totally kewl.
Luckily my cat will fight for freedom and snatch them out of the air, as will birds thinking it's a bugsnack.
And then there's the windshield of cars of course.
First of all I love that this is based on an existing biological creature. Its almost like reverse engineering (the wing flapping motion).
Secondly, continuing on those lines, this thing would be infinitely better if it could hover like a real dragonfly.
The army is involved in projects to insert electronics into real insects and to be able to steer them, saves some effort in developing stable flight and batterylifetime I suppose.
I can strap this thing to shoot eletro pluse tiny darts to brainwash people into submission. Global domination is no longer a dream!
I, for one, think that FIRST! is a good comment. That person got there before you did, so they have a right to brag about it. If that makes you mad, you're obviously jealous.
Bunch of retards... first to low rank is a big G...Y !!! :)
Check out this other video for a more footage of it "hovering"
Although this looks like an earlier, larger prototype, it may give you a better idea of how it works. Plus, it's got that really cool, really overplayed song from the matrix in it (Clubbed to Death.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_qaHw1V1m0&eurl=http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/23/robot-dragonfly-gets-outfitted-with-camera-plans-to-record-upri/2
Video can be viewed in high quality.
I've seen this in person, TU Delft brought a few of their DelFly's to the US last fall. They didn't have the camera on the small one, but they had it on a larger one. The Delfly flies amazingly well, it can hover and fly backwards at extremely slow speeds. They flew it around an auditorium and displayed the camera output on projectors.
These guys and Univ. of Florida are leading the way in Micro Air Vehicle development, IMO. The Air Force is still catching up, but a hovering vehicle like this that could perch and survey an area is highly desirable.
Dere's a leak in der dyke! Dere's a leak in der dyke!
Schtick your vinger in der dyke's hole right avay!
It's a little loud to use in the girls locker room.
I want one, that's sweet! :)
Is the camera wireless ?