Micro-aerial vehicles, or MAVs as they’re called in the elusive underground, are far from new, but a team from NC State University is hoping to advance the field with an all new critter. The Robo-Bat is a remote controlled creature that relies on a super elastic shape-memory metal alloy for the joints, which is said to provide a full range of motion while enabling it to “always return to its original position — a function performed by many tiny bones, cartilage and tendons in real bats.” The crew is also utilizing other “smart materials” in the muscular system, giving it the ability to react in real time to environmental changes such as sudden wind gusts. Ideally, this bionic chiropteran would be used to chivvy those who dare step foot on Franklin Street or inside Cameron Indoor Stadium, but in less malicious situations, it could help well-meaning scientists get the bottom of that whole “aerodynamics” thing.

Filed under: Robots

NC State gurus build remote control bats, freak out Dukies and Tar Holes originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Jul 2009 09:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Originally by Darren Murph from Engadget on July 7, 2009, 7:27am

Originally posted 2009-07-07 09:02:37.

For those that are interested in making custom parts for your next DIY project, this mill is a very cost effective way to make your next project the GEEKER way.  This was the cheapest CNC setup I found that had the quality and precision I was looking for.  Imagine, cutting metal or plastic parts using your computer designed drawing.  Sweet!!!  Just one step closer to building a robot to take over the world…. Hee Hee Hee

I purchased the Proxxon MF70 with the CNC conversion from JakobsTools for about $1,400.  A great online store that is a licensed distributor of Proxxon tools (ask for TJ).  This Mill is made by a German company that specializes in small high quality tools for hobbyists and  jewelers.  I beleive its primarily used by jewelers to carve wax for casting.  But having said that, this will be perfect for cutting out the parts I need to make my small robotic projects.  I actually own a Sherline Mill and Lathe, but without the CNC conversion. And to get it converted would cost me more than purchasing this mill.  So, now I have two mills.

The MF 70 is very well made. It has a cast iron base, extruded T-Slot table for mounting things and adjustments for the backlash.  For it’s price and size,  this is a perfect little tool if you want to dabble in CNC and make small parts (I mean really small parts. Travel of  5.26 x  1.8 x 2.7 inches).   The mill came fully assembled and only requires me to fine tune the backlash and hook it up to the computer (Ready to go… well sort of).

Because this is a German made mill, there is very little documentation for this product and the info I did find were in German of course.  So needless to say, it was a little difficult setting the specs up in the software to get the measurements just right. But after figuring out the threads per inch (TPI) and the pin settings, it was smooth sailing from there. Ready to start making my parts.

So, this concludes the first part of my review of the Proxxon MF70 CNC converted mill.  I’ll start on the next part soon as I start my project and provide more info on the software I am using and the specs I used.

Originally posted 2009-07-22 16:18:01.

Fall’s almost here and the lawn looks pretty dandy with all the leaves falling. I don’t break a sweat coz it’s not my part of the chores, but I do feel for my husband who has to do all the raking. … Read More

Originally posted 2009-11-14 08:19:03.

Never one to miss a chance to feature action-packed UAV footage on this space, here we have a behind-the-scenes look at the new Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band video for you. While it ain’t exactly Hearts of Darkness or Burden of Dreams, sometimes there are more important things than pathos, obsession, and heartbeak — in this case, up close and personal shots of AerialPan Imaging’s custom-built remote control camera rig, complete with mounted RED ONE HD video camera. … Read More

Originally posted 2009-08-19 08:23:21.