RSSProject: Building an Ornithopter
Read this article in MAKE:
08: Toys and Games, Page 90.
To get MAKE, subscribe or purchase single volumes.
Subscribers—read this article now in your digital edition!Can humans fly by flapping? Build a small, rubber band-powered ornithopter whose motion is similar to a bird in flight.
Templates
You can find the full-sized templates here.
This tiny flying insect, designed by Nathan Chronister, is the world's smallest 3D ornithopter. It has a 15 cm wingspan (less than 6 inches) and weighs only 3.5 grams, yet it can climb vertically, loop, roll, fly inverted or backwards, and hover. All this is made possible by a tiny 3-channel RC system from Plantraco! The four-wing system was based on a rubber-powered ornithopter plan Nathan created for the Fall 1994 issue of his Flapping Wings newsletter. (For more info about flapping wing models or the newsletter, visit Nathan's web site, .)
Media
Multimedia content for this article:
Video of the Ornithopter from Make 08!
Download now: QuickTime .MOV
Links
MAKE: Noise — Discuss this article
You must be logged in to post a talkback.[ Display main threads only] [ Oldest First]
Showing messages 1 through 6 of 6.
- Cool - but could it be better?
Reply
I have to say that this is really cool. I am impressed at how slowly this thing can fly. However, now that the initial excitement has worn off, I would like to be able to get a little better performance.
The problem that I am having is gaining altitude. I am getting less than 2.5 cycles per second at the very best - usually closer 1 after the first few seconds. On the Make video, it looks like theirs is flapping no faster. My longest flights are maybe 10 seconds. A quick internet search brings up many ornithopter projects that produce much higher hertz and can gain altitude and stay aloft for a minute or more. What can I do to improve mine? It seems like the biggest problem is the jerky crank rotation. Has anyone tried a different crank geometry?
Posted by shoomaker on April 06, 2007 at 11:26:15 Pacific Time
- 2.5 inch crank/front motor wire ?
Reply
When I look at step 1E (page 95) it says the wire should be bent with lengths of 1", 3/4", 1/8" and 3/8"... which together are 2.25 inches long.
However, on page 94 it says to cut the crank/front motor wire to 2.5" If that's true, 2.5" - 2.25" would leave just 0.25 inches for the shaft and hook.
I was hoping the electronic version would have corrected this, but maybe not.
Anywho, I'll try making the whole thing 3.5" and see how it turns out. :P I'll try to post again if it works.
Cheers, Everyone! :)Posted by B_Free on January 14, 2007 at 13:29:03 Pacific Time
- 2.5 inch crank/front motor wire ?
Reply
Finished!!!
Actually, I ended up using a 4" wire for the main crank assembly. (Thought I'd share that for what it's worth.) Also, be sure and have 2 needle nose pliers for bending the wire! :)
This is uber-cool! Have fun with it Everyone!!! :-D
Posted by B_Free on January 17, 2007 at 18:35:02 Pacific Time
- flappy!
Reply
arg, i got the angle on the crankshaft wong, and now it flaps retartedlike, its still awesome though!Posted by leeweek on January 07, 2007 at 10:11:56 Pacific Time
Reply
I can't wait to build this one.Posted by TheThompsonFive on November 07, 2006 at 17:00:02 Pacific Time
- Ok...mine is done!
Reply
I think I found one small flaw with the design, however.
A coworker and I felt the wings did not raise nearly enough to give sufficient lift, so after a number of tests, I incresed the length of the connecting rods by 1/4" (and moved the holes up appropriately of course).
The wings slightly alternate, but it doesn't seem to have much of an adverse effect. It flies great and looks amazing. Its currently hanging in my classroom.
Posted by Charlie24601 on December 07, 2006 at 06:44:14 Pacific Time
|
Showing messages 1 through 6 of 6. |
Join the conversation -- every MAKE article has an online page that includes a place for discussion. We've made these RSS and Atom feeds to help you watch the discussions: subscribe.
Why advertise on MAKE?
Read what folks are saying about us!
Click here to advertise on MAKE!
Explore More in Make Magazine
Search the pages of MAKE
Raves for MAKE!
“Now we've got geek DIY (do it yourself) porn. Just as would-be Emerils pore over lushly illustrated cookbooks with recipes involving hard-to-find morels and complicated instructions for roux, Tom Swift wanna-bes are devouring MAKE.”
— Steven Levy, Newsweek
“...O'Reilly Media recently launched what has already become the bible of this new movement, a magazine called MAKE.”
— Daniel Roth, FORTUNE
“If you're the type who views the warnings not to pry open your computer as more a challenge than admonition, MAKE is for you.”
— Rolling Stone
“One of the most innovative magazines I've seen in a long time.”
— Steve Riggio, CEO Barnes & Noble
“The kind of magazine that would impress MacGyver”
— Marcus Chan, San Francisco Chronicle
|
|
