3D-printing aerial robot prototype developed
British scientists have developed a prototype 3D-printing micro aerial vehicle (MAV) inspired by swiftlets, tiny birds that build their nests using their own saliva.
The MAV is a quad-copter, with four blades that enable it to fly and hover. It is made from off-the-shelf components, making it inexpensive to construct. It carries in its underbelly two chemicals that create polyurethane foam when mixed, and a printing module to deliver the foam. The foam can then be used to build simple structures or repair components.
“Swiftlets are like beautiful flying factories that can navigate often treacherous, dark environments to find a suitable place to build nests. Amazingly, they carry inside of them all the materials they need to build their own home. We have taken these traits and adapted them in robotics. Robots that mimic these birds could have enormous benefits, helping humans in construction and in hazardous situations,” Dr Mirko Kovac, from the Department of Aeronautics at Imperial College London, said.
The MAV could be used to carry out tasks in a range of environments hostile to humans. For example, they could inspect and repair industrial facilities such as offshore wind farms in remote and hard-to-reach locations.
The texture of the polymer exuded from the 3D printer also means that it can create ‘grippers’ to stick onto and transport objects to different locations. This means that the MAV could potentially be used to pick up and remove bombs, or to dispose of hazardous materials such as radioactive waste from crippled reactors, without exposing humans to danger.
Currently, the MAV can only fly in a controlled environment, using external sensors that feed information to a laptop. These process the information and send flight instructions back to the MAV via an onboard processor.
The next step for the team is to enable the vehicle to fly autonomously in any environment. They plan to incorporate high-speed cameras and sensors on board the MAV, which will act like a satellite navigation system for tracking and controlling of the flight trajectory
Major US defence company sets up in SA
US defence technology company Sierra Nevada Corporation has opened an Australian subsidiary, SNC...
Queensland boosting local manufacturing
The Queensland Government has announced it will boost homegrown manufacturing with an expansion...
Hazer completes testing of its commercial demonstration plant
Hazer Group has announced that it has completed testing of its commercial demonstration plant for...
