Created by aeronautical engineer Edwin Van Ruymbeke, the MetaFly may look like a real insect from afar, but it’s actually a flying biomimetic (synthetic methods that mimic natural processes) creature that weighs under 10 grams. It measures 7.5-inches long, has an 11.4-inch wingspan, and wings that are run by a coreless mechanical motor with an aluminum heat sink and powered by a rechargeable lithium-polymer battery. To charge it, simply place it in the included 2-channel radio-controlled remote that uses four AA batteries. Read more for a video, additional pictures and a link to where you can pre-order one.
You won’t have to sit around all day while it charges either, as a 15-minute charge offers 8-minutes of flying time on one set of AA batteries. Or, you could draw power from a 1,500-mAh power bank, good for twenty 12-minute charges before needing to be powered up.
If you happen to be an early backer, just $77 will snag you a MetaFly and controller, which is a savings of nearly 50% off the MSRP. Want upgrades right out of the box? Then $100 gets you the MetaFly, controller, and an upgrade kit that consists of a USB cable, power bank, an extra set of special edition wings / tail. Kickstarter page.
