Creator: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Another unnamed bot, this bird-size "bio-inspired MAV" (or micro air vehicle) developed by researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, distinguished itself by successfully perching on a human hand. As with many biologically inspired modes of locomotion, the goal is to reduce complexity and size. Instead of, say, mounting various rotors on the robot, its articulated wings give it a controlled glide, and a quick flap and reorientation of its tail pull it out of its dive, to land deftly on target. The researchers see this as a crucial step toward flying robots that can interact with people. A flock of tiny, nimble bird-bots is much less of a hazard or nuisance than a swarm of rotor-bladed microhelicopters.