Single-propeller 'drone' flies when you throw it like a frisbee

A drone, or quadcopter as it's technically called, typically has four propellers to generate enough thrust to let it hover in the air. The propellers are arranged in such a way to counterbalance the weight of the drone itself.

Researchers at the Institute for Dynamic Systems and Control at ETH Zurich have created a new kind of flying machine (technically, not a drone) that only needs one blade to fly.

The flying machine is called the Mono spinner and is billed as the "simplest, controllable, flying machine in existence" since it lacks actuators and aerodynamic surfaces. It only has one moving part: the rotating propeller.

The three-person research team (Weixuan Zhang, Mark Mueller and Raffaello D'Andrea) said the Monospinner was born after they asked "what is the minimum number of moving parts necessary for controlled flight?"

IMAGE: ETC ZURICH

The researchers have provided an in-depth look at the math and science that went into getting its flying machine into the air here. The gist: "An unconventional equilibrium is found by analyzing the vehicle’s dynamics. For a certain constant angular speed and propeller force, the Monospinner is able to remain substantially in one position. Feedback control keeps the vehicle near this equilibrium."

To fly it, just throw it into the air like a frisbee:

IMAGE: ETC ZURICH

Needless to say, you probably want to stay away from one of these guys. Just look at how it's spinning at an angle. It could easily take your eye out.

IMAGE: ETC ZURICH

Controlling the Monospinner.

IMAGE: ETC ZURICH