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FlyTech Dragonfly
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<h2 id="history">History</h2> <p>The Dragonfly was invented by Sean Frawley and Dan Getz who began experimenting with ornithopters while they were still teenagers.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:1" href="#fn:1"><sup>1</sup></a> 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. It also uses the same flapping wing design as the <a href="/facts/DelFly/USzvnNwn">DelFly</a>. 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 in <a href="/facts/Aerospace_engineering/2Ib02w7f">aerospace engineering</a> from <a href="/facts/Embry-Riddle_Aeronautical_University/C6wrSv2P">Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University</a> and now works for WowWee.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a> The Dragonfly was first introduced at the January <a href="/facts/Consumer_Electronics_Show/JUmN49Fl">2007 CES</a> show in <a href="/facts/Las_Vegas%2c_Nevada/DLwGjxJt">Las Vegas</a>, and was being sold in <a href="/facts/RadioShack/EHzYMpkP">RadioShack</a> stores in the <a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5">United States</a> in February 2007. </p> <h2 id="hardware">Hardware</h2> <p>The Dragonfly is made of lightweight materials that are strong and crash-resistant. Its gears and internal frame are made of <a href="/facts/Delrin/TFrYKSx7">Delrin</a>. These parts, and its other internal electronics, are protected by a body molded from <a href="/facts/Polypropylene/HM9PvoCz">Expanded Polypropylene</a>. <a href="/facts/Carbon_fiber/6PlL4mB2">Carbon fiber</a> rods give the Dragonfly's wings strength, while <a href="/facts/Mylar/Eg8XF4F0">Mylar</a> film give them lift and thrust.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> At 25 grams, its very light nature makes it easily susceptible to gentle wind currents. </p><p>The Dragonfly operates for approximately 5 to 10 (rarely 15) minutes on a single charge of its <a href="/facts/Lithium_polymer_battery/0I2uusoW">lithium polymer battery</a>. The Dragonfly recharges by plugging into its remote control unit, which itself requires 6 <a href="/facts/AA_battery/BkH5cBuW">AA batteries</a>. Charging time is about 20 minutes. </p> <h2 id="other-versions">Other versions</h2> <ul><li><i>FlyTech Dragonfly</i> comes in multiple colors, blue and green are the most commercially available, while red/orange ones are less common.</li> <li>One version of the <i>Dragonfly</i> is designed to resemble Barry B. Benson from the 2007 <a href="/facts/DreamWorks_Animation/qXUu6Tmt">DreamWorks</a> animated film <i><a href="/facts/Bee_Movie/vtjwyvhc">Bee Movie</a></i>.</li> <li>A <a href="/facts/Toys-R-Us/lHYA7rjT">Toys-R-Us</a> exclusive variant called the Hornet had a more wasp-like body.</li></ul> <h2 id="further-reading">Further reading</h2> <ul><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/gadgets/robots/wowee-releases-robotic-animal-kingdom-226642.php">Gizmodo article from January 6, 2007</a></li></ul> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> <ul><li><a href="http://www.wowwee.com/en/products/toys/flight/flytech/dragonfly">Official website</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.ornithopter.org">The Ornithopter Zone</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.ornitech.com/index.html">Ornithopter Technologies</a> – Sean Frawley's original company</li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070318004458/http://www.robocommunity.com/category/17/Flytech-Dragonfly">FlyTech Dragonfly Home</a> on <a href="http://www.robocommunity.com">RoboCommunity</a> – The official WowWee Robotics user community</li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20081121003633/http://www.remotecontroldragonfly.co.uk/">UK info site about the Flytech Remote Control Dragonfly</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.robocommunity.com/article/10576/Video-of-the-Dragonfly-Filmed-at-Half-Speed/">Video of Dragonfly flying filmed at half-speed</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.mydragonfly.info/">Fan-site, photo gallery, forums and review with pictures of Dragonfly</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.robotsrule.com/html/flytech-dragonfly.php">Flytech Dragonfly</a> Information page (plus YouTube video) it is a big fly</li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070502063223/http://www.robocommunity.com/article/11198/Interview-with-Sean-Frawley--Creator-of-the-FlyTech-Dragonfly/">Flytech Dragonfly Inventor Sean Frawley</a> – a discussion of remarkable materials, painstaking development and that spark of inspiration.</li> <li><a href="http://ledmuseum.candlepower.us/ninth/dragnfly.htm">Review of the FlyTech Dragonfly by Craig Johnson of The LED Museum</a></li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>Winerman, Lea (2002). Teen Biz Flies High, Science World, Sep 27, 2002 <a href="http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Teen+biz+flies+high.+(Physical+News)-a099554827" target="_blank">http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Teen+biz+flies+high.+(Physical+News)-a099554827</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>Marriott, Michael (2007). If Leonardo Had Made Toys, The New York Times, Feb 2, 2007 <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/08/technology/08toys.html" target="_blank">https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/08/technology/08toys.html</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>Block, Jeff (2004). Interview With Sean Frawley, Creator of the FlyTech Dragonfly Archived 2007-05-02 at the Wayback Machine RoboCommunity.com, Apr 20, 2004 <a href="http://www.robocommunity.com/article/11198/Interview-with-Sean-Frawley--Creator-of-the-FlyTech-Dragonfly/" target="_blank">http://www.robocommunity.com/article/11198/Interview-with-Sean-Frawley--Creator-of-the-FlyTech-Dragonfly/</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>