Flying robots inspired by nature

Researchers are looking to nature when designing the next generation of flying robots. Fourteen research teams have developed solutions to common problems faced by drones when navigating urban environments by studying the mechanisms adopted by bats, birds, insect and snakes.

From avoiding obstacles, picking up and delivering items or improving take-off and landing on tricky surfaces, it is hoped these solutions can lead to the deployment of drones in complex urban environments, such as military surveillance and search-and-rescue efforts, to flying camera phones and reliable courier services. To effectively carry out these tasks, drones need high-precision flight control.

These research teams presented their work in a special issue of IOP Publishing’s journal Bioinspiration and Biomimetics. The issue is devoted to bio-inspired flight control.

“Flying animals can be found everywhere in our cities. From scavenging pigeons to alcohol-sniffing fruit flies that make precision landings on our wine glasses, these animals have quickly learnt how to control their flight through urban environments to exploit our resources,” wrote Dr David Lentink of Stanford University, who was guest editor of the special issue.

“To enable our drones to fly equally well in wind and clutter, we need to solve several flight-control challenges during all flight phases: take-off, cruising, and landing.”

Discoveries outlined in the journal include:

• A drone the size of a one cent coin that could be used to explore extremely cramped and tight spaces, as well as assisted pollination and reconnaissance. Based on fly-like movements, it can hover in the air for sustained periods of time, take-off and land.
• Small drones used in hazardous areas such as Fukushima, Japan. An algorithm has been developed to allow a number of drones to fly together like a flock of birds to improve efforts.
• A ‘jumpglider’ that combines an aeroplane-shaped body with a spring-based mechanical foot that propels the robot into the air, inspired by the flying squirrel, flying fish and flying snake. It will be useful for search and rescue efforts, operating at low power and offering a significant advantage over land-based robots by being able to navigate around obstacles and over rough terrain.

The special issue can be downloaded for free from http://iopscience.iop.org/1748-3190/9/2.