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Epson's 12 Gram Flying Robot

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the not-strong-enough-to-fetch-me-beer dept.

fraxinus-tree writes "Epson has developed a very small (8.6g w/o battery) flying device, something like a bluetooth-controled palm-top helicopter." Since it can carry 5 grams for only 3 minutes, I can't imagine much practical use, but it's still neat.

7 of 385 comments (clear)

  1. Not what I had in mind by qmchenry · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Was anyone else hoping it would look more like a bee or a dragonfly?

    --
    Recipes for geeks -- no meatloaf, we promise.
    1. Re:Not what I had in mind by mks180 · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Rotors are much easier to build: just a revolute joint. While a flapping wing would be a more efficient way to produce lift for a small aircraft, it would be incredibly challenging to produce an actuator which can produce the required motion of a bee's wings, particularly at the proper frequency and scale. The wings actually flap and then twist, or flip over, at the end of each stroke. This way they use the vortex that is shed during the previous stroke to provide a boost in lift on the return stroke because the vortex passes over the upper surface of the wing. This produces a much greater pressure differential than just a regular airfoil in a free stream, because the core of the shed vortex has a much lower pressure than what can be produced by an airfoil due to it's shape. Let's not forget the control system which would probably be a challenge to design.

  2. Looks like a DiVinci Drawing by EvilTwinSkippy · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I swear that little think looks like one of DiVinci's sketches of a human powered machine. Compare

    --
    "Learning is not compulsory... neither is survival."
    --Dr.W.Edwards Deming
  3. Re:Can carry a spare battery! by EvilTwinSkippy · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Or better yet, power the sucker with a microwave beam.

    --
    "Learning is not compulsory... neither is survival."
    --Dr.W.Edwards Deming
  4. Re:Can carry a spare battery! by Alwin+Henseler · · Score: 4, Interesting
    Maybe a good candidate for using a tiny ethanol-powered fuel cell? Low empty weight, direct fuel -> electricity conversion, and ethanol has fairly good energy-weight ratio (better than batteries anyway). You could even use a lightweight plastic bag as fuel tank.

    Fill up just a bit for short flights, or fill up to max. for longer fun.

  5. Re:Worth the Money? by EvilTwinSkippy · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Or until they realize this thing wouldn't last 10 seconds outdoors. A simple gust of wind would carry this thing WAY off course. It looks like it has a hard enough time dealing with normal air currents sans wind.

    --
    "Learning is not compulsory... neither is survival."
    --Dr.W.Edwards Deming
  6. Re:Faked? by rossifer · · Score: 3, Interesting

    No need. It's only 1/8 the weight of a kit you can buy, build, and fly yourself for a few c-bills: Helistar Micro Helicopter

    And if you've ever tried to learn how to hover a fixed pitch micro helicopter, you'll swear to god that there's a demon yanking on it with a string. Further, fixed pitch helicopters get harder and harder to fly the smaller they get, so I'm not suprised that hover isn't completely smooth, even in a controlled environment.

    As someone who owns and flies a micro-helicopter that's a bit bigger still, the video looked completely credible and believable. It looked like my copter did when I was learning to hover.

    Regards,
    Ross