Seagull Robot Takes Off And Flies On Its Own, Just Like the Real Thing

Ok...I know it's not a kite, but this is still pretty damn cool. What you see here is a new lifelike seagull ‘bot is one of the most realistic bio-inspired flight machines we’ve seen. SmartBird takes off, flies and lands on its own, flapping its wings and turning its head and tail to steer. It is modeled on the herring gull and its appearance and movements are uncannily similar to the real thing.

Designed by the German firm Festo, which also brought us the elephant-trunk-inspired robotic arm and the autonomous robotic jellyfish, SmartBird is Festo’s newest entry in its Bionic Learning Network program, which involves several universities in the U.S. and Europe and aims to use nature as a model for mechatronic systems.

The bird has a 6.5-foot wingspan, so it’s much larger than a real gull, but it looks pretty much like the real thing, as you can see in the video below.

SmartBird flies like a seagull thanks to an active torsion system combined with a complex control system. Its wings each consist of a two-part arm wing spar with an axle bearing on the torso. The wings and tail are the only mechanisms creating lift, and Festo engineers had to figure out bird flight in order to do it.

The company explains: “First, the wings beat up and down, whereby a lever mechanism causes the degree of deflection to increase from the torso to the wing tip. Second, the wing twists in such a way that its leading edge is directed upwards during the upward stroke, so that the wing adopts a positive angle of attack.”

The tail acts as an elevator and rudder, stabilizing the bird in straight-line flight and helping it change direction.

Check out a video of the SmartBird in action:

http://www.facebook.com/video/?id=81334776533#!/video/video.php?v=1466732328197

Third Coast Kite and Hobby

Buy Starkites at Third Coast Kite and Hobby

ExA 2011- Power and Performance
Sizes Available: 7-9-11-13

The 2011 ExA, Starkites hybrid model is designed and built for one purpose, top notch freestyle performance. It is intended for demanding riders looking for big/lofty jumps, high powered tricks and mega loops.

Now on its third R and D year, we specifically focused on dynamic stability control.

This enables the ExA’s potential to be fully exploited at high winds, enhances safety at the extremes, and steering comfort in order to stay focused on the actual trick instead of the kite. Keeping our competition riders in mind, we have maximized upwind ability in order for them to throw more tricks during their heats.

The ExA comes in one-pump system and reinforcements at the leading and Trailing edges.

With its huge wind range, heavy duty construction, and ease-of-use, this kite stays at the top of the charts.

Technologies

Starkites R&D team has devoted a large amount of time to testing and improving each detail of ExA 2011. The result is amazing … See for yourself!

As with all the Starkites products, the ExA has been developed using state of the art technology and our specialized know-how to make this kite a market leader.

The Auto Morphing Profile enables a dual action:

1. Auto-stabilisation of the kite when it is located at the edge of wind window in gusty winds.

2. Double De-power allowing the kite to flatten the center profile in addition to reducing the angle of attack when sheeting out.

In more technical terms, the ExA s Central Strut Curve Curve is inverted and linked to the canopy by a fabric wall. This feature prevents the kites stalling in gusty winds and also increases the effect of sheeting in and out. Kites with standard struts change the angle of attack when the rider sheets in or out. The ExA changes both the center profile shape and the angle of attack which all leads to better de-power capacity using smaller movements on the bar.

The bridle system is key to a kites’ performance. With the ExA, we focused on developing the Dual Bridle System

This bridle system will always keep the kite arch in the same shape and ensure power transmission to be complete. The bridle does not absorb or lose force, which makes you get a real and direct response from your kite.

In the Dual System, the central bridle keeps the leading edge in a constant perfect shape, and the lateral bridle gives direct power transmission while maintaining the best kite balance according to the kite s center of power.

ICE technlogy stands for Inner Curved leading Edge.

The leading edge shape ensures minimal contact with water when the kite is on the water. It also guarantees a fast and easy re-launch.

Just power-up and pull one of the leader lines a few centimeters and it will re-launch the kite. No more swimming needed!

This is the same technology as developed for Starkites SBOW kite, a renowned model for its amazing re-launch capabilities.

Central Inflation

The ExA 2011 is available in with Central Inflation – we have the simplest and strongest system on the market, easy for repair and simple to use.

High Strength Structure

The ExA’s high strength structure creates a very reactive kite thanks to its hybrid radial construction : 1/3 bi-radial and 2/3 tri-radial.

Fabric fibers are orientated in the same exact direction as the power is distributed from, which creates a strong and stiff structure that results in minimum energy loss, increased reactivity, easier control and increased wind range.

Third Coast Kites