Brushless bird flies like a real bird on less then 100W
 

The talk is ok but the bird they created is so cool I know its not a buggy but still well worth a look at

http://www.ted.com/talks/a_robot_tha...ke_a_bird.html

Thats is pretty cool! The dude sounds like a robot lol

It's taken a while to come out with the electric version. The idea has been around a long time. Cool find though.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1980s-TOY...item519a33ef3c

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/$(KGrHqYOKkI...i9TZdw~~_3.JPG

Yea I had one of those from a science trip when I was a kid. When I saw the robot I thought of the same thing. Great project, but looks like a straight forward adaptation from the toy with remote servos and movement created near the mid point of the wings. I am sure that its more than that, but yea I had that self flying toy back in 1983-84.

noir552:

That picture just brought back SOO many memories.

When I was only a couple years old (5 maybe?) I found those in one of my brothers' drawer while I was playing around..

They got it from their trip to France, and brought it back.

Eventually, I guess it just ended up breaking, or never worked (for me at least).

I would spill hours into trying to get that thing to work (didn't it use rubber bands?) but never could....

My son has a cheap thing/game called Duck Hunter that has a duck that flies around and you have to shoot it down via an IR gun. It's somewhat neat, but doesn't fly anywhere near as nice and smooth as that robot does.

The robot in the vid actually flies like a real bird does with full wing articulation. Comparing that to the cheapie versions is like saying a BMW is the same as a Yugo.

You misunderstand. It's more like evolution's been a long time coming. The ebay link I posted explains a little of how old the idea is. Henry Ford didn't disign the Ford GT.

That rc bird is the most graceful I have seen. I think due to the extra bend in the wing which I think is flex designed into to it, giving more stability and lift. So I don't think the wing is fully articulated, just an advanced variation of the reciprocating action.

Not so in theory. - The robot clearly is a more advanced and robust design, especially with the articulation and additional servo at the "joint" within the midportion of the wing. And of course with the use of computer programming and advanced electronics the overall movement was smoothed and slowed down to take advantage if its ability to glide after each wing beat. But the wing/flight theory is essentially the same in the toy and the robot. And is virtually duplicated as far as steering via the tail section is concerned.

Fuel/spark/air combustion engine, four round rotating objects to provide decreased friction and forward motion, internally geared transmissions for manipulation of speed /power ratios, rotating drive shafts to transfer mechanical movement, . . . . besides leather heated seats, cruise control, I-pod capable GPS system, and a $45k price tag - is there really a big mechanical difference in a Yugo and a BMW?