Tech Marvel Robobird Takes to the Skies

Beautiful and slightly spooky, Festo’s SmartBird is a robot that imitates natural bird flight. Says the company homepage:

Its wings not only beat up and down, but twist in a specific manner. This is done using an active articulated torsion drive, which provides both lift and propulsion. With this functional integration, Festo has technically deciphered bird flight.

And, you can look up at it without fear of anything coming down at you.

Science Channel’s “Outrageous Acts of Science” took a look at the new “bird”: