- FlyTech Dragonfly
The Flytech Dragonfly is
WowWee 's entry into remote-controlled flying toy industry. The Dragonfly has been incorrectly billed as the world's first commercially available RCornithopter (flapping wing aircraft). It was actually preceded by several other products including Hobbytechnik's Skybird, Park Hawk, and Slow Hawk radio controlled ornithopters, and the Cybird radio-controlled ornithopter from Neuros. The Dragonfly is made from lightweight but strong materials and has a crash-resistant structure. It isrechargeable and has multiple modes for beginner and advanced users. The Dragonfly is not a robot like the majority of WowWee's current products, such as theRobosapien and theRoboreptile . Replacement wings are available for purchase.History
The Dragonfly was invented by
Sean Frawley andDan Getz who began experimenting with ornithopters while they were still teenagers. [Winerman, Lea (2002). " [http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Teen+biz+flies+high.+(Physical+News)-a099554827 Teen Biz Flies High] , Science World", Sep 27, 2002] The four-winged design of the Dragonfly was based on a previous rubber-band-powered ornithopter kit designed by Nathan Chronister and manufactured by The Ornithopter Zone. The newly available micro-sized motors and batteries developed for cellular telephones made it possible to build an electric-powered, radio-controlled version. Mr. Frawley has since earned a degree inaerospace engineering fromEmbry-Riddle Aeronautical University and now works for WowWee. [Marriott, Michael (2007). " [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/08/technology/08toys.htm?_r=1&oref=slogin If Leonardo Had Made Toys] , The New York Times", Feb 2, 2007] The Dragonfly was first introduced at the January 2007 CES show in Las Vegas, and was being sold inRadioShack stores in theUnited States in February 2007.Hardware
The Dragonfly is made of lightweight materials that are strong and crash-resistant. Its gears and internal frame are made of
Delrin . These parts, and its other internal electronics, are protected by a body molded from Expanded Polypropylene.Carbon fiber rods give the Dragonfly's wings strength, whileMylar film give them lift and thrust. [Block, Jeff (2004). " [http://www.robocommunity.com/article/11198/Interview-with-Sean-Frawley--Creator-of-the-FlyTech-Dragonfly/ Interview With Sean Frawley, Creator of the FlyTech Dragonfly] RoboCommunity.com", Apr 20, 2004] At 25 grams, its very light nature makes it easily susceptible to gentle wind currents.The Dragonfly operates for approximately 5 to 10 (rarely 15) minutes on a single charge of its
lithium polymer battery . The Dragonfly recharges by plugging into its remote control unit, which itself requires 6 AA batteries. Charging time is about 20 minutes.Other versions
*"FlyTech Dragonfly" comes in multiple colors, blue and green are the most commercially available, while red/orange ones are less common.
*One version of the "Dragonfly" is designed to resemble Barry B. Benson from the2007 DreamWorks animated film "Bee Movie ".
*Also in 2007,WowWee released a remote-controlled "Rex" from theITV sci-fi drama series "Primeval".References
External links
* [http://flytechonline.com/dragonfly_index.html Official Dragonfly Site]
* [http://www.ornithopter.org The Ornithopter Zone]
* [http://www.ornitech.com/index.html Ornithopter Technologies] - Sean Frawley's original company
* [http://www.robocommunity.com/category/17/FlyTech-Dragonfly FlyTech Dragonfly Home] on [http://www.robocommunity.com RoboCommunity] - The official WowWee Robotics user community
* [http://www.robosapien.tk/ Unofficial WowWee Hacks and Mods site]
* [http://www.remotecontroldragonfly.co.uk/ UK info site about the Flytech Remote Control Dragonfly]
* [http://www.robocommunity.com/article/10576/Video-of-the-Dragonfly-Filmed-at-Half-Speed/ Video of Dragonfly flying filmed at half-speed] - In reality it is a TWICE speed filmed ! so the playing appears half speed.
* [http://www.mydragonfly.info/ Fan-site, photo gallery, forums and review with pictures of Dragonfly]
* [http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/oet/cf/eas/reports/ViewExhibitReport.cfm?mode=Exhibits&RequestTimeout=500&calledFromFrame=N&application_id=715385&fcc_id= FCC filing: WowWee's FlyTech Dragonfly]
* [http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/oet/cf/eas/reports/ViewExhibitReport.cfm?mode=Exhibits&RequestTimeout=500&calledFromFrame=N&application_id=814425&fcc_id= FCC filing: WowWee's Dragonfly controller]
* [http://www.robotsrule.com/html/flytech-dragonfly.php Flytech Dragonfly] Information page (plus YouTube video) its a big fly
* [http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/robots/wowee-releases-robotic-animal-kingdom-226642.php Gizmodo article from January 6, 2007]
* [http://www.robocommunity.com/article/11198/Interview-with-Sean-Frawley--Creator-of-the-FlyTech-Dragonfly/ Flytech Dragonfly Inventor Sean Frawley] - a discussion of remarkable materials, painstaking development and that spark of inspiration.
* [http://ledmuseum.candlepower.us/ninth/dragnfly.htm Review of the FlyTech Dragonfly by Craig Johnson of The LED Museum]
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