According to Chinese state media reports, China has developed a robotic bird with remote applications: the 'Little Falcon' shown off last Saturday is the pride of major Chinese military drone manufacturers who conducted a recent test in Xi'. A, the capital of Shaanxi Province in northwest China. According to a Chinese media outlet, the device has been described as the world's “most agile and realistic bird-like drone,” which could lead to research in the area in the coming years.
This is not the first time scientists have looked to birds for inspiration to develop ornithopters – machines that gain lift by flapping their wings – mainly for the purposes of human flight. Just remember the beginning of the flight…
A team of researchers at Northwestern Polytechnic University presented a different vision for their Ornithopter: a small unmanned aerial vehicle that could fulfill multiple roles, including for the Chinese People's Liberation Army.
The robotic bird's agile flight controls were made possible by the invention of a new crank mechanism, the scientists said, that allowed the drone to fold its wings as they folded simultaneously — meaning it could turn by folding one wing each time. And stretch both to increase your energy efficiency while gliding.
“These aircraft are suitable for reconnaissance, surveillance and even precision strikes in special operations,” Chinese newspaper 'Global Times' said, as quoted by 'Newsweek' magazine. According to an expert quoted by the Chinese newspaper, he highlighted that the drone's realistic physical appearance would add a layer of complexity to adversary efforts to effectively detect it.
Northwest Polytechnic University is one of China's leading defense research institutes and a direct supplier of drones to the Chinese military. “It is heavily involved in military research, describing itself as 'committed to advancing and serving the national defense science and technology sector'”, ASPI (Australian Strategic Policy Institute) said.
“This is the only Chinese university that runs a UAV defense laboratory [veículo aéreo não tripulado]. The university has close links with state-owned shipbuilding and aerospace companies,” they said.
The team responsible for the latest drone last October built a robotic pigeon that flew non-stop for three hours, five minutes and 30 seconds.
The EU has also taken steps in this direction: the 'GRIFFIN' project, in 2023, demonstrated a robotic bird that could land on tree branches using claws. The device “can replace rotary-wing aircraft in some environments”, highlighted those responsible.
China's Skyhawk UAV is scheduled to conduct outdoor trials soon after some of its key parameters have been improved. Experts said that the flying-wing structured drone will play an important role in reconnaissance and attack missions. https://t.co/yLpiCslK38 pic.twitter.com/QctoA5t7ML
— Global Times (@globaltimesnews) February 27, 2024
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