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Shape Changing Plane In Development

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the making-toys-a-career dept.

Eh-Wire writes "The University of Florida has a short article on the "morphing wing" drone they are developing for a small aircraft that can swoop through parking garages, dive into alleys and land on balconies. Close-up video of seagulls in flight was the inspiration for the design of the drone. A still image of the drone shows an aircraft that looks surprisingly gull-like. A video shows the "wing morphing" in action on a static mounted drone. There is also a link to quite a few more videos in the article but it's not real obvious. Some guys get all the phun jobs!"

6 of 212 comments (clear)

  1. Looks more like a certain Italian Renaissance by WillAffleckUW · · Score: 5, Interesting

    inventor's design than it does the Wright Brothers designs.

    But probably because he based his design on actual seagulls and terns as well.

    I for one, welcome our new privacy-impaired overlords.

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  2. sooo... by Tepshen · · Score: 5, Funny

    Wonder plane powers activate! Form of .... a slightly different plane!

  3. Re:The wing shape isn't new... by rumpledoll · · Score: 5, Insightful

    As old as powered flight. The Wright Brothers patented a wing warping system that was used on the Wright Flier, which was of course, the first powered heavier than air craft to successfuly fly.

  4. Thankfully cows don't fly... by mopslik · · Score: 5, Funny
    ... seagulls in flight was the inspiration for the design of the drone.

    So, when flying over crowds of people, does this new plane drop its cargo every so often?

  5. Coralized link to Mpeg by Guano_Jim · · Score: 5, Informative

    Here's the video

    Coralized, so hopefully people will be able to view it.

    I'm not sure if the file goes over Coral's size limit.

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  6. The wing warping patent battles by PapayaSF · · Score: 5, Informative

    As old as powered flight. The Wright Brothers patented a wing warping system that was used on the Wright Flier, which was of course, the first powered heavier than air craft to successfuly fly.

    Very true, and Slashdot readers might be interested to know that wing warping was the subject of a huge patent battle between the Wrights and Glenn Curtiss. See here and here. The consensus is that the patent fight significantly inhibited US aircraft development at the time.

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