Media release

From: The Royal Society

Specialist gliding birds like eagles, vultures, and albatrosses are masters of soaring flight, harvesting energy from the atmosphere as they ride strong updrafts over land and reliable wind gradients at sea. But many other birds soar opportunistically in the small-scale gusts and updrafts that characterise cluttered environments whenever there is a wind, often flapping as they soar. Today’s flying robots struggle to fly in gusty conditions, but future flying robots may be able to harvest atmospheric energy opportunistically like birds, greatly increasing their efficiency, range, and endurance. This paper considers how, exploring the many new opportunities waiting to be exploited.