COSMOS MAGAZINE
Manta ray moves inspire swimming robot
Credit: Jie Yin and Haitao Qing, NC State University
Researchers have taken inspiration from manta rays’ graceful bird-like motion to design a fast robot that can deftly manoeuvre in water to assist deep-sea exploration and monitoring.
Microrobots take on ant-like abilities
Credit: Device, Yang and Won
Nanoengineers have designed tiny magnetic robots that swarm together like ants to pick up objects many times their size or even form rafts to float on water.
Robot adjusts its wings like a pigeon
Credit: Eric Chang/Lentink Lab
Researchers in biomimetics have created a robotic bird model with real pigeon feathers to understand how birds manage to fly without a vertical tailfin.
Drone technology that mimics a bird
Credit: The University of Hong Kong.
Scientists have designed a small drone with a “bird-like” ability to fly quickly and safely through unfamiliar environments and could assist search and rescue missions.