This makes me ever so seriously anxious. I can deal with regular robots, no problem, but I draw the line at flying ones…

Robotics company Festo has presented numerous ingenious flying machines inspired by nature, but they have reached new heights with the SmartBird. Weighing a mere 450 grams and with a wingspan of 1.96 meters, the SmartBird mimics bird flight with surprisingly natural ease and grace. It can also takeoff, fly, and land autonomously, all while making in-flight adjustments. This robot also shirks plane-like control surfaces like flaps, instead using its flexible body to control its direction in flight.

Via Max Eddy at Geekosystem:

Seeing this, I can’t help but think of Leonardo da Vinci and how he labored to create a mechanical device that would mimic bird flight. A shame that he never could see the amazing creations we’re now capable of.

Nevermind da Vinci. What would Alfred Hitchcock say?