University of Maryland researchers have performed flight tests to prove that a bird-like micro air vehicle (MAV) can achieve additional lift by folding its wings on the upstroke, similar to the ...

Although wing-flapping micro-drones do already exist, the things tend to be quite fragile – and thus not ideally suited to real-world use. An experimental new one, however, utilizes a softer mechanism ...

Birds fly more efficiently by folding their wings during the upstroke, according to a recent study. The results could mean that wing-folding is the next step in increasing the propulsive and ...

The study of bio-inspired flapping flight and the dynamics of micro air vehicles (MAVs) has grown into a vibrant interdisciplinary field, merging insights from insect biomechanics, aerodynamics and ...

Bio-inspired wind sensing using strain sensors on flexible wings could revolutionize robotic flight control strategy. Researchers have developed a method to detect wind direction with 99% accuracy ...

A US Army Ranger squad leader watches video on his personal digital assistant as it streams from micro air vehicles (MAV) in his area. Hovering above the squad, a small ducted-fan unmanned air vehicle ...

Tiny flying robots have always faced a brutal trade-off between agility and battery life, burning through power just to stay ...

Robotic versions of flying insects hold a lot of promise for numerous applications, but controlling their yaw axis while in flight has proven challenging. A new bee robot, however, addresses that ...