Airbus created the AlbatrossONE, a remote-controlled small-scale aircraft with wingtips that can flap like a bird.
In accordance with its namesake, the AlbatrossONE was inspired by the albatross bird that has the ability to fly "over long distances with little fatigue," according to Airbus' news release about the AlbatrossONE's most recent test flight.
To imitate the flapping wings motion of a bird, Airbus added flapping "semi-aeroelastic" wingtips to the aircraft that engage when confronted with strong gusts of wind.
These hinged, flapping wingtips help reduce drag, therefore saving fuel and consequently decreasing carbon dioxide emissions. Efficiency is top of mind for aircraft manufacturers, as it's a key attribute airlines around the world are looking for as they hope to introduce longer routes around the world and jet fuel's expense and price variations continue to wreak havoc on the bottom line.
The AlbatrossONE isn't a newly unveiled concept jet. Airbus initially trialed ground-based tests throughout 2019 and completed the small-scale, wing-flapping aircraft's first test flight in late July of 2019 on a scaled-down Airbus A321. However, its most recent test this past July was the first time the aircraft completed a "gate-to-gate" test with wingtips that were 75% longer than the ones used in the initial flight test.