EPFL researchers have developed a bizarre hugging-wing robot drone that can wrap its wings around a tree to perch. The goal was to develop an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capable of landing on vertical poles in the built and natural environments to use as jump off points.
It draws inspiration from the adaptability of animals’ and bats’ limbs in gripping and holding onto trees, resulting in the dual-purpose wings you see here that enable both aerial gliding and perching on poles. When combined with an upturned nose design, the robot can passively reorient from horizontal flight to vertical upon a head-on crash with a pole, followed by hugging with its wings to perch.
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We demonstrate crash-perching on tree trunks with an overall success rate of 73%. The method opens up new possibilities for the use of aerial robots in applications such as inspection, maintenance, and biodiversity conservation,” said the researchers.
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