MAV

Harvard researchers are developing a feedback controller that should allow the Robobee to hover and perform controlled flight

Robotics

Harvard researchers are getting closer to their goal of developing a controllable micro air vehicle called the Robobee.

Scientists are working on creating a computer model of the honey bee's brain, which they plan on using in autonomous micro air vehicles (Photo: Shutterstock)

Robotics

Scientists hope to put artificial bee brains in flying robots

Scientists are working on creating a computer model of the honey bee's brain, which they hope to use in tiny autonomous flying robots.

The Urbana-Champaign MAV features articulated wings with movable trailing edge flaps

Robotics

Bird-like autonomous gliding robot can land on a human hand

Engineers have created a bird-like micro air vehicle that is capable of coming to a perched landing on a human hand.

Boeing has demonstrated swarm technology using two ScanEagles (pictured) and a Procerus Unicorn

Aircraft

Boeing demonstrates swarm technology

Boeing has demonstrated swarm technology for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that is similar to the way insects communicate and work together as an intelligent group.

Researchers inspired by the wings of swifts and swftlets have developed an experimental Micro Air Vehicle which combines flapping and gliding flight modes for improved efficiency

Aircraft

'Best of both worlds' MAV combines flapping and gliding flight

Researchers inspired by the wings of swifts and swftlets have developed an experimental Micro Air Vehicle which combines flapping and gliding flight modes for improved efficiency.

Alexander Alexeev and Hassan Masoud, with their computer model of flapping-wing flight (Photo: Gary Meek)

Science

Scientists look to create small-scale flapping-winged flying machines

The veritable fly-on-the-wall spying device, deployable in the meeting rooms of enemy leaders, may be one step closer to realization thanks to a new breakthrough in our understanding of how flapping wings work.

Scientists hope to emulate the honeybee's aerial navigational skills through human technology

Robotics

Man-made bee's eye could mean big things for flying robots

Scientists have created an artificial honeybee eye, in hopes of applying bees' aerial navigational skills to micro air vehicles.

Mirko Kovac's perching mechanism, mounted on a micro glider

Robotics

Insect-inspired device lets micro air vehicles perch on vertical surfaces

A newly-designed mechanism allows micro air vehicles to perch on vertical surfaces, then continue on their way.

Aircraft

AeroVironment receives funding for perch-and-stare micro-UAV

AeroVironment has been awarded $4.6 million in funding from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to develop a new generation small Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) with "perch-and-stare" surveillance capabilities.

Aircraft

World's smallest camera carrying Micro Aerial Vehicle takes flight

A team at the Delft University of Technology have developed a Micro Air Vehicle (MAV), which they claim is the smallest flying, camera carrying ornithopter in the world, measuring 10 cm from wing tip to wing tip.

Aircraft

Imitating nature in flight: University of Michigan research explores flap-wing micro UAVs

The Air Force has given Wei Shyy, chair of the Aerospace Engineering department at the University of Michigan, grants totaling more that $1 million a year to research small flapping-wing UAVs.

Aircraft

BATMAV System with AeroVironment's Wasp III Micro Air Vehicle achieves full rate production

The United States Air Force BATMAV (Battlefield Air Targeting Micro Air Vehicle) program with AeroVironment's Wasp III Micro Air Vehicle has received approval for Full Rate Production. The Wasp is a portable, 16 inch (38 cm) long, rugged unmanned aerial platform designed for front-line reconnaissanc