It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a ... feathered drone? [feedly]

Original press release [pdf]

Original images and video

https://youtu.be/Vgtdg1ClLzg

Bioinspired morphing wings for extended flight envelope and roll control of small drones
http://rsfs.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/7/1/20160092

A drone has been equipped with feathers to increase its precision during flight. The bio-inspired device can spread or close its wings while flying, making it easier to maneuver and more resistant in high winds
http://actu.epfl.ch/news/a-drone-that-flies-almost-like-a-bird/


There is much to learn from the natural world when it comes to robotics, and there may be no better exponents of this than the folks in the Laboratory for Intelligent Systems (LIS) at Switzerland's École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne. For their latest bio-inspired project, the scientists have crafted a drone with a feathered, shape-shifting wingspan that allows it to fly fast, turn sharply and endure strong winds. Kind of like a bird.
.. Continue Reading It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a ... feathered drone?
http://newatlas.com/drone-feathered-wings/47000/


Bird-like drone uses feathers for a more precise flight path
http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Bird-like_drone_uses_feathers_for_a_more_precise_flight_path_999.html