Flying fish-inspired unmanned seaplane - Crazy aviation on water and beyond
Drawing inspiration form nature to build a prototype is no new. But, the intelligent merging of technology with nature has always amazed and amused us. Here is yet another great design by University of Michigan researchers - an unmanned seaplane. But, it is not like the ones existing today. This new seaplane resembles a 'flying fish' - it is perhaps the first seaplane that can initiate and perform takeoffs and landings on water all on its own!
That sounds amazing! The inspiration behind its creation has led to its name - 'Flying Fish.' The autonomous craft may be of great help in advancing the Department of Defense's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) "persistent ocean surveillance" program. It is about the size of a large pelican.
Hans Van Sumeren, associate director of the U-M Marine Hydrodynamics Laboratories said,
The vehicle did very well. To take off and land in the water was a big effort. We did it 22 times.
Ah! There are still more to come up about the seaplane. It may soon be powered by the sun with more sensors built in it - to make it more adept to its duties and amazing to the watchers.
For more information on the Flying Fish project at the U-M Marine Hydrodynamics Laboratories, visit here.
