A flying robot beetle has appeared. This design increases its lifting force.

Beetles from the order Coleoptera have a main pair of wings, as well as special elytra that protect

insect from damage.But scientists have proven that such an external device also helps to increase the insect’s lifting force, as well as increase the permissible angle of attack at which stalling does not occur. The latter is an aviation term meaning that an object can suddenly change its spatial position.

The authors of the new work decided to use this knowledge and create a robot with elytra. The device has a folding wing, consisting of two sections on each side, and elytra covering them.

They are assembled and deployed by servomotors in a split second. And at the rear, the drone has two push screws that tilt vertically when necessary, allowing you to change direction.

According to the results of the experiments, it turned out thatthe elytra create additional lift. They also conducted a flight in a wind tunnel and, based on the results of analyzing the movement of air flow, it turned out that the elytra increase the permissible angle of attack from 14 to 20 degrees. 

The robot beetle can also fly in a controlled manner, despitefor additional weight from the elytra and accompanying servomotors. The authors noted that despite the attention to design, the device is lifted into the air thanks to the propellers and wings.

Read more

Space exploration can cause humans to contract extraterrestrial viruses

Biologists have created a bacterium that destroys the protective shell of cancer cells

"The Last Hero": These missions will no longer return to Earth, but continue to transmit information