Technology constantly takes inspiration from pure sources. Think cat’s eye cameras for seeing by way of camouflage, or AI that replicates the human mind to single out particular person sounds in a busy room.
Now, on the Laboratory of Intelligent Systems, on the Swiss École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, doctoral scholar Won Dong Shin has created his RAVEN (Robotic Avian-inspired Vehicle for a number of ENvironments) fixed-wing drone.
Its legs have been impressed by birds that use leaping takeoffs, much like crows, and it might probably additionally use its legs to stroll round on the bottom.
The RAVEN is definitely roughly the dimensions of a crow, with a wingspan of 39.4in / 100cm, and its physique size is about 19.6in / 50cm. It can cowl a meter in slightly below 4 seconds, and jump over gaps of 4.7in / 12cm, and up obstacles as excessive as 9.8in / 25cm.
To obtain a leaping takeoff, the RAVEN’s legs can propel the drone to a beginning altitude of practically half a meter with a ahead velocity of 4.9mph / 2.2m/s.
(Image credit score: EPFL)
“Whenever I encountered crows on the EPFL campus, I’d observe how they walked, hopped over or jumped on obstacles, and jumped for take-offs,” says Won Dong Shin.
“What I constantly noticed was that they at all times jumped to provoke flight, even in conditions the place they might have used solely their wings.”
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Shin was within the physics behind why birds bounce to take off, and the way the apply may very well be used to learn fixed-wing drones, which in any other case want runways, catapults, or further weighty propellers to take off.
The RAVEN’s multifunctional legs carry it very near its avian counterparts, particularly in a single hilarious approach.
(Image credit score: Won Dong Shin)
While nowhere close to as advanced as actual chook legs, the RAVEN does require its versatile toes so as to keep upright when strolling. Without them, it simply faceplants as you possibly can see within the video under.
Shin hopes that his leg design will sooner or later be viable on bigger fixed-wing drones that may very well be used for deliveries. A imaginative and prescient system that can be utilized for each impediment avoidance and touchdown is being developed, as are wings that may fold away whereas in flight to allow the drone to suit by way of slim gaps.
Ultimately, Shin desires to make the drone as birdlike as attainable regardless of apparent limitations.
“I’m additionally eager to include flapping wings into RAVEN. This enhancement would allow extra birdlike movement and produce extra fascinating analysis inquiries to discover.”
Fast Ground-To-Air Transition With Avian-Inspired Multifunctional Legs – YouTube
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