The Dragonfly

As discussed in our previous meeting, your correspondent was tasked to source for an appropriate research subject. This is what I came home with:


The Flytech Dragonfly! This is a radio controlled ornithopter.

An ornithopter is a machine that propels itself through the air by flapping its wings, as opposed to more conventional fixed-wing aircraft, or the rotating wing helicopter. The four wings are powered by cams; the wings on each side of the airframe flaps in the opposite direction, i.e. each stroke squishes air out between them to give forward thrust and lift. Yaw control is activated by a tail rotor that swings the dragonfly around.

This vehicle certainly has superior maneuverability when compared to similar 2 channel helicopter models, in fact flight characteristics is closer to a 2 channel fixed wings craft: the airframe launches forward in a series of stalls and dives.

This is a really well thought out design. It is robust, all the structural components are made from carbon fibre. It has survived repeated crashes and rough handling by research assistant #1. It is easy to repair, one of the wing struts were snapped into two by an obnoxious neighbour kid, but luckily the kit comes with two spare wings. One can also fine tune the handling characteristics through a selection lever, and attaching a tail ribbon.

Turns out this toy was designed by teenagers (Dan Getz and Sean Frawley) who sold the rights to WowWee (the toy company). They went onto study at Embry-Ridle Aeronautics University but remained as consultants for WowWee.

Here is a video of the dragonflyer in action at the WowWee office:



Black Mamba, you got to get one of these!

Research meeting

I had a brief research meeting with my nephews last week. This was what went down:

your correspondent, the principal researcher (PI): "I propose that we upgrade our research equipment. We have gained a reasonable understanding of passive gliders, and now is time for us to move onto the next level: remotely controllable, powered flight."

Research assistant #1, (nephew #1), singing: "Helicopter and aeroplane, aeroplane, aeroplane, helicopter aeroplane, and sometimes a motorboat."

Research assistant #2, (nephew # 2): "ball! addaaaaaah!" throws a ball across the conference room.

PI: "I have done a brief literature review in the relevant publications, (takes out toys'R us catalogue). In the short term, I propose we move up to radio controlled devices. As #1 correctly pointed out, we should focus our efforts on airborne vehicles, maybe dabble in a bit of hydrodynamics if it is financially feasible. In the long run, we will like to get our hands on some autonomous machinery."

#1, flicks through the catalogue, points at the barbie dolls, and pronounces: "Pink is for girls, hehehehe."

#2 supports the proposal through action by crushing our previous research equipment (a paper airplane).

PI: "I will head over to the stores and start sourcing for parts."

Fig 1. Picoo Z. A radio controlled helicopter. 2 channels. Controls for this airframe is much sharper compared to the previous acquisition. This was one of the candidates I considered as a research subject. However, after some additional scouting, I decided on something a bit more unusual, standby for a detailed report.

Back from the dead

My computer recently underwent a near death situation.

Two nights ago, I spilled a cup of water onto the keyboard and it pretty much seeped through to the innards while the computer was running. Most laptop users will agree that this is a serious situation, it is unlikely that a computer can recover from such disaster.

I tried switching it off, but it gave a long distress beep and crashed. the next day was spent attempting to dry and power it up. The fan ran but the CPU refused to boot up.

However, last night, a miracle occurred! After another frantic drying attempt with a hair-dryer, it sounded the welcome tone and booted up!!! Currently, all systems are go and there seems to be no ill effects!

Get a mac!