A UF professor is working toward developing the mothership of science-fiction aficionados' dreams: a real flying saucer.
Subrata Roy, a mechanical and aerospace engineering associate professor, has designed a disk-shaped aircraft that he calls the "wingless electromagnetic air vehicle," or WEAV. The patent for the aircraft, which will measure less than six inches across, is still pending.
Ideally, Roy's aircraft could be used to fly through other planets' atmospheres and explore extraterrestrial terrain. It could also be employed for more practical uses, such as surveillance and navigation purposes.
"This has nothing to do with aliens," Roy said. "This is more of science than fiction."