A robot that flies like a bird – “Biomimicry”
Man has always had a fascination for flight. Starting with the wright brothers we have been inspired by nature – using wings and applying principles of aerodynamics learnt from birds. But the “smart bird” is something completely different, the smart bird is not inspired by nature but rather is a copy of it, an attempt to replicate it. The result is compelling. The team creates something that is in some ways surreal – a flying robot that looks natural. Research into robot aesthetics / movements / form / gesture is fascination because it’s through these mediums that we interface with the robot. They play a role in dictating our experience of the interaction  – whether we come to accept the robot as a companion, tool or entertainer or reject it for being too different, unfamiliar and alien.