Engineers at Rutgers University in New Jersey, USA, have developed a bird-like drone whose wings flap and twist without motors, gears or mechanical linkages.
The solid-state ornithopter, described in a study published in the journal Aerospace Science and Technology, instead relies on the piezoelectric effect, in which special materials change shape when voltage is applied.
“We apply electricity to...
The strongest version of this narrative highlights a genuine engineering breakthrough: a drone that leverages piezoelectric materials to achieve bird-like flight without traditional mechanical components. The research team deserves credit for both the physical prototype and the computational model, which allows for virtual testing and optimization. This dual approach—combining material science with simulation—could accelerate innovation in robotics and renewable energy.
However, the narrative le...