Stanford's Flying Fish Glider 12
Zothecula writes "Researchers at Stanford University have developed a small 'aircraft' that resembles a flying fish which can jump and glide over a greater distance than an equivalent jumping robot. Using a carbon fiber spring to take off, the jumpglider has a pivoting wing that stays out of the way during ascent, but which locks into place to glide farther on the way down."
I like it! (Score:2)
Re:I like it! (Score:4, Funny)
Dear DeathGrippe (2906227),
Typing your entire comment in monospace is like annoying. Please stop.
Signed, -Everyone
Be compassionate with font-blind users. He's typing it from Links2 on a 486SX over SSH. He doesn't see the difference.
Picking at nits (Score:1)
<quote><p>Dear DeathGrippe (2906227),</p><p>
Typing your entire comment in <tt>monospace</tt> is like annoying.
<tt>Please stop.</tt> </p><p>Signed,
-Everyone</p></quote>
<p>Be compassionate with font-blind users. He's typing it from Links2 on a 486SX over SSH. He doesn't see the difference.</p></quote>
<blink>All of my Comments and posts are in the default fonts provided by Firefox on an Alienware lapt
Re: (Score:2)
The most important question. (Score:2, Funny)
Can it carry a coconut?
Oh yeah, that's interesting too... (Score:1)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cellular_automaton
The engineer in me can appreciate the effort though...
See hand-thrown RC gliders (Score:2)
Seen on international glider contest:
A RC glider launched by hand upright stays high for minutes.
some random example of glidder thrown upright [youtube.com]
The Stanford's has moving wings that lock but its design doesn't seem to help a lot when we see other fixed wings gliders performance.
Re: (Score:1)
The difference here is that the glider launches itself and carries the launching mechanism with it. It likely can't launch itself over and over without human input though. I'm sure they can learn a lot from RC airframe design.
A picture is worth 1000 words (Score:1)
where's the video?