Manned drones are nice for getting around the city, but sometimes, you just need something smaller. Meet the Hopcopter. This bizarre pogo stick drone created by a team of scientists from City University of Hong Kong and The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology boasts an elastomer-band-loaded rubber-tipped leg that also allows it to hop around.
When flying as a regular multi-rotor drone, Hopcopter is capable of accelerating downward and then spring-loading the leg upon impact with the ground. It can then leap vertically and horizontally to conserve energy. Switching directions is as easy as flying leg-first in to a sloping or vertical surface.
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By harnessing multimodal locomotion, the robot is capable of intermittent midflight jumps that result in substantial instantaneous accelerations and rapid changes in flight direction, offering enhanced agility and versatility in complex environments. The passive leg design holds potential for direct integration with conventional rotorcraft, unlocking seamless hybrid hopping and flying locomotion” said the researchers.
