While quadrotors are a popular topic here at MAKE, Lockheed Martin is taking things in the other direction with Samarai, their proof-of-concept monocoptor. The design is inspired by a maple seed, often called a “whirlybird” for the way it falls from the tree, rotating as it slowly floats towards the earth. Lockheed’s prototype is 10 inches long, but according to Popular Mechanics, they plan to shrink it down to the size of a fingernail and perhaps use it as a handheld aerial surveillance tool. That, or for annoying our younger siblings. [via Geekosystem]
16 thoughts on “Lockheed’s Samarai: A Maple Seed Inspired Aircraft”
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Needs more POV!
Needs more POV!
I’m hungry,feed me,,,,where can I get one to play with? I would like to do a hands on to see the camera possibilities. This might be a great device for sea based operations. “Over Horizon” devices are very large,and would love to work with the inventors/developers for SAR and Oil Field Exp.
Thanks for sharing “Geekosystem”
Due to the fact that this unit has no hub or centre of rotation, how would one mount a cam on it as there is no stable point
If the shutter is timed properly, you could probably get 4+ feeds from a single camera. It would take a little processing power, but nothing a computer equivalent to a modern smartphone couldn’t handle. It uses the same concept as a POV message writer, but triggers a camera instead of an LED.
Due to the fact that this unit has no hub or centre of rotation, how would one mount a cam on it as there is no stable point
If the vibration also scales down, it’s guaranteed to send every pooch within a thousand miles barking mad.
If the vibration also scales down, it’s guaranteed to send every pooch within a thousand miles barking mad.