Aviation industry has come a long way, and AeroVironment has been a name well reckoned. NAV or the Nano Air Vehicle had been in works for a while, and finally the maker’s made a successful flight of this, world’s first self-powered, flapping, rudderless aircraft. Designed to look and fly like a hummingbird, the NAV operates using its two flapping wings that function for its rudder, engine and the elevator.
Using the flapping wings, which is a novel rarity and an achievement real, the self-powered NAV can hover perfectly both to and fore, and can also capably elevate, replicating the hummingbird to near perfection. The aircraft, given its form, size and agility, will definitely make a great spy drone and a helping rescuer in calamities and emergencies. DARPA is funding AeroVironment for the project and the destructive agency unsatisfied still wants, lighter say 10 grams or less, aircrafts with about three inches wingspan and travelling capacity of about half-mile.
Via: Discovery
