The Dragonfly puts all other flying toys to shame.
A new robotic dragonfly from Georgia Tech can hover, dive, climb, and fly like a real insect.
Meet the TechJect Dragonfly a remote control robotic insect that, as its name suggests, looks akin to and can fly like a real insect. Researchers at Georgia Tech’s Robotics & Intelligent Machines (RIM) Department have been hard at work making this science fiction inspired device a reality.
“The TechJect Dragonfly is a wifi-enabled, super-small, smart and energy efficient robotic insect; it can do amazing aerial photography, aerobatic maneuvers for gaming, autonomous patrolling for security and surveillance, and much more. With up to 20 sensors onboard, the Dragonfly is the most advanced and compact flying platform out there.” -TechJect
TechJect suggests there’s no shortage of uses for the Dragonfly, from aerial photography and gaming to home security and spying. With a platform that boasts GPS capabilities, streaming video and 20 onboard sensors, I’m inclined to agree, the applications are almost limitless.
After receiving a $1,000,000 grant from the US Air Force, the team, including Dr. Jayant Ratti and Emanuel Jones, has built a number of prototypes and is now working to bring a consumer version to market under the spin-off company TechJect. Through their Indigogo page you can support the project and secure your very own remote control Dragonfly for all of your espionage needs.
Indigogo is a popular crowdfunding site where the public can lend monetary support to projects in exchange for various rewards. In the case of the Dragonfly, a contribution of $99 (sold out at the moment) will catch you an Alpha Dragonfly — the perfect package for a budding robo-etymologist. On the other hand if you’re looking to start your own swarm, contributing $949 will see some 17 Dragonflies come under your command. The campaign also offers a variety of Dragonfly-based rewards between these two contribution levels — act fast though, the TechJect Dragonfly has already raised almost $100,000 of its $110,000 goal.
The recent innovations in remote controlled flight have been impressive to say the least; the last decade has seen the realization of toy helicopters that fit comfortably in the palm of your hand, quadrotors that are able to perform stunning complex choreography and lethal military drones controlled from countless miles away.
Isn't it comforting to see how the technology filters down to the masses? Now do you believe my previous post? At last, we may be able to keep ourselves safe from those who say they are keeping us safe. You can even fly these with your Smartphone!
(See post of Friday, July 27, 2012 - Bug Off MAV!)
Thanks to Phil Tucker for putting this together.
Scares the shit out of me!
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