Ep 11. Regina Dugan: From Mach-20 Glider to Hummingbird Drone

Regina Dugan: From Mach-20 Glider to Hummingbird Drone is the eleventh episode of the first season of TEDTalks: Rad Invention. In this episode, Regina Dugan, a former director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and current VP of Engineering at Facebook, shares her journey in innovation and discusses some of her groundbreaking inventions.

Starting with her work on the Mach-20 glider, Dugan discusses the importance of pushing the boundaries of what is possible. She describes the challenges of creating a glider that could travel at Mach-20, or 20 times the speed of sound, and the incredible impact that it could have on space travel. Dugan also shares her excitement for the possibilities of hypersonic flight.

Dugan then talks about her work on the Hummingbird Drone, a tiny unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) modeled after the bird of the same name. She details how the drone is capable of hovering, flying backwards and forwards, and even flying through windows and tight spaces. She also explains how this drone could have significant applications in search and rescue missions, surveillance, and even package delivery.

Throughout her talk, Dugan emphasizes the importance of collaboration and new ideas in innovation. She encourages listeners to embrace challenges and use them as an opportunity to push the boundaries of what is possible. In a world where technology is rapidly advancing, Dugan's talk serves as a reminder of the incredible potential for progress and discovery.