Media Platforms Design Team (Photo Credit: Bionic Bird XTIM) A smartphone-controlled “bionic bird” is taking to the skies, and it’s fooling a few real birds in the process. The crowdfunded Bionic Bird project is a Bluetooth-enabled, carbon-wing drone toy. It can sustain about 80 total minutes (10 flights of about eight minutes each) of flying time per charge. The bot has a 100-meter range, and engineer and creator Edwin Van Ruymbeke is working on installing on-board video to capture the point of view of the Bionic Bird as it swoops through the air. Van Ruymbeke wanted to might the flight of flesh-and-blood birds, so his creation uses a surprisingly life-like wing flap that has fooled a few birds of prey. The bird can be yours for a $100 IndieGoGo pledge. Once it hits retail shelves, that price will bump up to $149. Currently it’s compatible only with Bluetooth 4.0-equipped iOS devices, but an Android version is on its way. View full post on YoutubeVia Popular Science.John WenzWriterJohn Wenz is a Popular Mechanics writer and space obsessive based in Philadelphia. He tweets @johnwenz.
