Comments on: DARPA http://futurismic.com/2009/07/03/darpa-dune-miniature-ornithopter-development/ Presenting the fact and fiction of tomorrow since 2001 Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:03:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Robert Koslover http://futurismic.com/2009/07/03/darpa-dune-miniature-ornithopter-development/comment-page-1/#comment-37186 Robert Koslover Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:24:30 +0000 http://futurismic.com/?p=8034#comment-37186 Here's more about ornithopters: http://www.ornithopter.org My kids had one of those rubberband-powered flapping-birds some years ago. It actually worked rather well. Here’s more about ornithopters: http://www.ornithopter.org
My kids had one of those rubberband-powered flapping-birds some years ago. It actually worked rather well.

]]> By: Rick York http://futurismic.com/2009/07/03/darpa-dune-miniature-ornithopter-development/comment-page-1/#comment-37182 Rick York Fri, 03 Jul 2009 19:59:16 +0000 http://futurismic.com/?p=8034#comment-37182 Great project. Just curious: has anyone ever compared the overall efficiency of flapped versus propelled(?) flight? Great project.

Just curious: has anyone ever compared the overall efficiency of flapped versus propelled(?) flight?

]]> By: Robert Koslover http://futurismic.com/2009/07/03/darpa-dune-miniature-ornithopter-development/comment-page-1/#comment-37172 Robert Koslover Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:05:53 +0000 http://futurismic.com/?p=8034#comment-37172 FYI, the "Phase II contract extension" probably refers to an extension to a DARPA SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) contract. SBIR contracts start as Phase I R&D programs (typically about $100k) and, if the work is considered successful by the government reviewers, can lead to the award of Phase II R&D programs (typically about $750K). Receiving a follow-on award of $2.1M strongly suggests that DARPA was very pleased with AeroVironment's work in the earlier Phase I and II efforts. So let us congratulate them and wish them good luck in advancing their technology further. FYI, the “Phase II contract extension” probably refers to an extension to a DARPA SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) contract. SBIR contracts start as Phase I R&D programs (typically about $100k) and, if the work is considered successful by the government reviewers, can lead to the award of Phase II R&D programs (typically about $750K). Receiving a follow-on award of $2.1M strongly suggests that DARPA was very pleased with AeroVironment’s work in the earlier Phase I and II efforts. So let us congratulate them and wish them good luck in advancing their technology further.

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