Researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL) have developed a robot that can fly like a bird and land on a branch. In the future, the bird robot will observe animals and collect samples in nature.
So far, robots that flap their wings to fly like birds have been unable to land, EPFL said in a Monday statement accompanying an article recently published in the journal Nature Communications. The bird robot EPFL, weighing 700 grams, is the first of its kind to do this. It can fly independently to a horizontal bar and hold on to it with its mechanical claws.
Because the robot can move quieter and more inconspicuously without a propeller than drones, for example, it is ideal for nature observation, the authors wrote in the study. A so-called ornithopter is also ideal for inspecting pipes or power lines in areas where wildlife can easily be disturbed.
Complex maneuver
As simple as it looks in nature, landing a bird on a branch is a complicated maneuver. The ornithopter had to be able to slow down significantly without crashing. The claw had to be strong enough to grip the perch and support the robot’s weight without being so heavy that the robot fell.
In addition, the robot must be able to perceive its surroundings and the perch in relation to its own position, speed and trajectory. To this end, the scientists equipped the ornithopter with a complete on-board computer and a navigation system.
The catch: For now, the robot can only land indoors. Outside, the ornithopter is not yet able to locate a branch with sufficient accuracy.
Source: Krone
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