Skip site navigation
Maryland Today
Athletics Arts & Culture Campus & Community People Research
Athletics Arts & Culture Campus & Community People Research
Research

Feathers Not Included

Doctoral Student Helps Create Robotic Bird With Revolutionary Wing-Flapping Ability

In this age of advanced technology, how hard could it be to develop a robotic bird that flies by flapping its wings similar to a real bird? Despite the apparent simplicity of the idea, it’s very hard—if you want it to actually fly. Lena Johnson, a doctoral student in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, has helped the A. James Clark School of Engineering make the goal a reality.

Related Articles

Research

May 05, 2026
Study Shows That in Investment, Productivity, and Economic Opportunity, Land Owned by the ‘Little Guy’ Comes Out on Top

Research

April 23, 2026
UMD Researcher Uses AI to Turn Dense OTC Medicine Labels Into Personalized Guidance