doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-08228-9
Credibility: 999
#DroneÂ
Imagine a robot that moves and flies like a bird! Scientists at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, along with a researcher from the University of California, have created a bird-inspired robot that can jump into the air to launch itself into flight
This amazing invention, called RAVEN (Robotic Avian-inspired Vehicle for multiple ENvironments), uses spring-like legs to take off, just like real birds do.
Why Design a Jumping Robot”
Most drones we see today either:
1. Use rotors to rise straight into the air, like helicopters.
2. Need to roll on a runway or use a launcher, like airplanes.
But birds, like crows, do something unique-they use their legs to jump into the air before flapping their wings.
This movement uses less energy than flapping alone, which inspired the scientists to try something similar with a robot.
How RAVEN Works
The researchers designed RAVEN to have:
– Spring-loaded legs: For walking, hopping, and jumping.
– Fixed wings: Like an airplane, instead of wings that flap.
– A split-V tail: For stability in flight.
– An engine-powered propeller at the front to help it fly.
Testing the Robot
The scientists put RAVEN through different tests to see if it could mimic bird movements.
– Walking and hopping: RAVEN moved around on its legs, just like birds do.
– Jumping to fly: When its propeller started spinning, RAVEN could jump into the air and take flight.
This shows how combining jumping with powered flight can create a new and efficient way for robots to move.
Real-World Applications
According to experts, robots like RAVEN could be useful for:
– Exploration: Reaching areas that are hard to access, like dense forests or disaster zones.
– Surveillance: Moving between walking and flying for flexible observation.
– Delivery: Efficiently transporting small packages in different environments.
By looking to nature for inspiration, scientists are finding incredible new ways to design machines.
Who knows” One day, robots like RAVEN might work alongside us, exploring the skies and the ground with ease!
Published in 12/09/2024 09h38
Text adapted by AI (ChatGPT/Grok) and translated via Google API in the English version. Images from public image libraries or credits in the caption. Information about DOI, author and institution can be found in the body of the article.
Reference article:
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