There are no powered spinning propellers in nature. When evolution has found an advantage to producing thrust in a fluid, it has done it mainly by flapping things back and forth. This new VTOL ...

Flapping-wing micro air vehicles (FWMAVs) are characterized by their compact size, lightweight design, and high maneuverability, making them highly practical for various applications. However, the ...

The flying abilities of one of the world's fastest birds has been used as the inspiration to create a new drone prototype, scientists say. Based on the aerobatic maneuvers of the swift, an ...

Ever seen a bat gobble up a bug, or a fly evade a swatting hand? Even the most agile fighter pilot can’t match those aerial acrobatics. Now a team of Dutch researchers has built a flying robot that ...

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 ...

Robotics researchers regularly turn to the natural world for inspiration, and those working on machines that fly are no different. An international team of scientists has taken this approach to ...

A piezoelectric-powered flapping wing that uses mechanical linkages could be windtunnel tested early next year as part of a £435,000 ($745,000) project at the UK’s Cranfield University. The work will ...

Unless they’ve got stake in a big oil company, the most common reasons people have for opposing the installation of wind turbines is the noise pollution and the risk they pose to birds. But a ...

You all know that most species of animals can fly -- but not humans. There are more than a million species of flying insects, but do you know that among the 13,000 warm-blood vertebrate species (which ...

You've heard of robotic bees, but have you heard of robotic butterflies? Chinese researchers have published a study that focuses on their efforts to develop solar-powered wings that imitate the ...

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