Dragonfly? No, It’s ‘Bionicopter’!    [26-04-2013] We can often see dragonflies in summer. Children usually catch dragonflies with a butterfly net while running around a mountain or field. Because of this, dragonflies are familiar to children. Recently, an invention was revealed that would interest most children! German robot manufacturer Festo has created a dragonfly-like robot! The robot called “Bionicopter” is 44 centimeters long and weighs 175 grams. It is capable of not only flying forwards and backwards, but also moving up and down by using four wings just like a real dragonfly. In addition, it flaps from 900 to 1,200 times per minute. So, it is able to float in the air or glide through the sky without beating its wings! The robotic dragonfly is able to fly for a long time because it has a built-in lithium battery of 7.6 volts. Its movemenst can even be controlled by a smartphone. According to IT scientists, the newly developed Bionicopter will play the role of a spy plane for the next generation. It is possible to do various activities even in a confined space. With these unique strengths, it will surely undertake important assignments in the near future. It’s amazing!     출처: 어린이 영자신문 키즈타임즈 (www.kidstimes.net)