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Tag: Drones

  • Rapid, Accurate Radioactive Material Localization With Drones and Robots

    Rapid, Accurate Radioactive Material Localization With Drones and Robots

    Chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive substances (commonly referred to as CBRNE) can endanger both the public and emergency responders. In 2023, a tiny cesium capsule fell from a truck in Australia, sparking a major search. The growing number of hybrid attacks and other destabilizing activities has further intensified the threat landscape.
    In addition to a gamma detector, the highly automated UAS also has electro-optical and infrared cameras on board. Image Credits: Fraunhofer FKIE

    Chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive substances (commonly referred to as CBRNE) can endanger both the public and emergency responders. In 2023, a tiny cesium capsule fell from a truck in Australia, sparking a major search. The growing number of hybrid attacks and other destabilizing activities has further intensified the threat landscape.

    Two research departments at Fraunhofer FKIE are therefore focusing closely on how drones (unmanned aerial systems, UAS) and robots (unmanned ground vehicles, UGVs) can be used to offer the most effective support to people in such hazardous situations.

    Such systems have been tested for years at EnRicH and ELROB. Both events are organized in alternating years by researchers from the Cognitive Mobile Systems department. They test drones and robots in real-world conditions and guide their development.

    Highly Autonomous UAS for Radioactive Source Detection

    Under a contract with the Bundeswehr Research Institute for Protective Technologies and CBRN Protection (WIS), researchers in the Sensor Data and Information Fusion department are developing a UAS capable of rapidly and accurately detecting and locating radioactive sources. A technology demonstrator has already undergone field trials at the WIS facility in Munster, demonstrating the ability to pinpoint a radioactive source within a few meters in just minutes.

    “The cesium capsule in Australia took days to locate using handheld detectors. “Our UAS could have located it much faster,” says Claudia Bender, who co-designed the demonstrator with Torsten Fiolka.

    The experimental CBRNE robot assists in the detection and recovery of radioactive hazardous materials. Image Credits: Fraunhofer FKIE/Fabian Vogl

    Detection Involves an Exploration Phase and a Targeted Search

    The researchers focus on advanced data processing, sensor fusion, and automation. The system largely automates the detection process and performs it in two stages: an exploration phase and a search phase. In the exploration phase, the UAS surveys the target area, continuously gathering environmental data. When it detects a deviation from background radiation, the system transitions into search mode.

    In search mode, the drone’s flight path adjusts dynamically based on both previously collected data and real-time sensor readings. The system uses stochastic methods to estimate the radioactive source’s probable locations.

    “After the pilot launches the drone, it first follows a predetermined flight path. “Once sufficient data is gathered, the system switches to adaptive search mode to estimate the source’s location,” the researcher explains. “The drone then creates waypoints, continuing until it pinpoints the hazardous material and reports its exact position.”

    A first technology demonstrator has already been successfully tested. It can precisely detect a radioactive source to within a few meters in only a few minutes. Image Credits: Fraunhofer FKIE

    Advanced Sensing and Mapping Capabilities of the Drone

    A spatial heat map shows radiation levels across the scanned areas, while a probability map highlights the cell most likely to contain the radioactive material.

    The drone uses a gamma detector to measure radiation and additional sensors to support detection. It also includes electro-optical and infrared cameras, an Intel NUC, an IMU, and an LTE module for ground monitoring. The cameras capture live video from the drone and identify objects like people, buildings, and vehicles, displaying them on a georeferenced map. The IMU tracks the drone’s 3D position and movement.

    Researchers developed the technology demonstrator through the HUGIYN project (Highly Automated UAS for Detecting and Identifying γ-Emitting Nuclides). In the SLEIPNIR project, researchers aim to boost the UAS’s speed and track multiple moving nuclides simultaneously.

    Read the original article on: Tech Xplore

    Read more: Drone Technology to Reshape Disaster Response, Healthcare, Environment, Farming, and Cybersecurity

  • Hovering Drones Create Coordinated Displays of Light, Water, and Sound

    Hovering Drones Create Coordinated Displays of Light, Water, and Sound

    "Traditional fountains have their charm, but they’re fixed in place and never change. Arivia is shaking things up with fleets of illuminated, synchronized aquatic drones that spray water in time with music."
    Image Credits:An envisioned Arivia aquatic drone show in Dubai
    Arivia

    “Traditional fountains have their charm, but they’re fixed in place and never change. Arivia is shaking things up with fleets of illuminated, synchronized aquatic drones that spray water in time with music.”

    Japanese Drone Glides Freely on Water

    Created by the Japanese company Spaceone Fukushima, Arivia recently won the Innovation Award for Drones at CES 2026. Each unit has a spherical top above water, a cylindrical section below, and a disc-shaped flotation ring in between. Four underwater thrusters allow it to glide across the water in any direction.

    Image Credits:A close look at an Arivia prototype
    Arivia

    The drone houses electronics including a fountain pump with an adjustable nozzle, RGB LEDs, an audio player, GPS navigation, a camera, and a Wi-Fi module. With this setup, multiple drones can autonomously coordinate across lakes, harbors, or pools to perform preprogrammed water, light, and music shows. They can also be controlled manually if required.

    Image Credits:Small-scale Arivia prototypes, playin’ in the pool
    Arivia

    An extra benefit is that, being in the water, the drones can also collect environmental data like temperature, turbidity, and oxygen levels using built-in sensors. There’s no word yet on when Arivia drone fleets will appear nearby, but for now, you can see them in the animated video below.

    Read the original article on: Newatlas.

    Read more:LG Presents a New Laundry-Folding Robot at CES 2026

  • Bat-Inspired Drones Could Aid Rescues in Storms and Darkness

    Bat-Inspired Drones Could Aid Rescues in Storms and Darkness

    Don’t be misled by the fog, eerie lights, or fake bats—Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s robotics lab isn’t throwing a Halloween party.
    Colin Balfour, a sophomore studying robotics engineering, flies a small drone at a laboratory at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Monday, Oct. 20, 2025, in Worcester, Mass. Image Credits: AP Photo/Charles Krupa

    Don’t be misled by the fog, eerie lights, or fake bats—Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s robotics lab isn’t throwing a Halloween party.

    Instead, the lab serves as a testing site for miniature drones designed to carry out search and rescue operations in dark, smoky, or stormy environments.

    “We know that during earthquakes or tsunamis, power lines often fail—frequently at night—so waiting until morning to rescue survivors isn’t an option,” explained Nitin Sanket, assistant professor of robotics engineering. “That led us to look at nature. Could any creature handle this?”

    Bat-Inspired Drones in Rescue Missions

    Sanket and his students turned to bats, inspired by their remarkable echolocation skills. With funding from the National Science Foundation, they are creating small, cost-effective, and energy-efficient aerial robots capable of operating in conditions where conventional drones cannot.

    Last month, emergency teams in Pakistan deployed drones to locate people stranded on rooftops amid severe flooding. In August, a drone helped rescuers locate a man in California who had been trapped for two days behind a waterfall. Earlier in July, drones assisted in mapping a safe path to reach three miners who had been trapped underground in Canada for over 60 hours.

    Colin Balfour, a sophomore studying robotics engineering, flies a small drone at a simulated night flight at a laboratory at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Monday, Oct. 20, 2025, in Worcester, Mass. Image Credits: AP Photo/Charles Krupa

    Although drones are increasingly used in search and rescue, Sanket and other researchers aim to go beyond the current model of manually controlled, single robots. The next major advancement, according to Ryan Williams, an associate professor at Virginia Tech, is creating aerial robots that can operate in swarms and autonomously decide where to search.

    “That kind of deployment—fully autonomous drones—barely exists,” he said.

    Using Data-Driven Drones to Enhance Search and Rescue

    Williams addressed this challenge in a recent project, programming drones to coordinate their search patterns with human rescuers. His team also analyzed historical data from thousands of missing-person cases to build a model predicting how a lost person might behave in the wilderness.

    “We then used that model to guide our drones, focusing their searches on areas with the highest likelihood of finding someone,” he explained.

    Colin Balfour, a sophomore studying robotics engineering, checks the rotors on a small drone at a laboratory at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Monday, Oct. 20, 2025, in Worcester, Mass. Image Credits: AP Photo/Charles Krupa

    At WPI, Sanket’s project tackles other drawbacks of current drones, such as their size and sensory limitations.

    “Most existing robots are large, heavy, costly, and can’t function in all environments,” he said.

    In contrast, his drone is small enough to fit in the palm of a hand, built primarily from low-cost hobby materials, and capable of operating in complete darkness. It uses a tiny ultrasonic sensor—similar to those in automatic faucets—to mimic a bat’s echolocation, sending out high-frequency pulses and detecting obstacles through the returning echoes.

    Drone Navigates in Darkness and Obstacles

    In a recent demonstration, a student remotely launched the drone in a brightly lit room and then again with only a dim red light. As it neared a clear Plexiglas wall, the drone consistently stopped and reversed, successfully navigating even in darkness with fog and artificial snow in the air.

    Nitan Sanket, assistant professor of robotics engineering, describes the components on a tiny drone at his lab at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Monday, Oct. 20, 2025, in Worcester, Mass. Image Credits: AP Photo/Charles Krupa

    “Right now, search and rescue robots mostly work during daylight,” Sanket explained. “The challenge is that these operations are tedious, hazardous, and often take place in the dark.”

    However, the development process wasn’t without hurdles. The team discovered that the noise from the drone’s propellers disrupted the ultrasonic signals, so they designed 3D-printed shells to reduce the interference. They also applied artificial intelligence to help the drone filter and interpret the sound signals effectively.

    Robotics engineering students change out the battery on a tiny drone at a laboratory at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Monday, Oct. 20, 2025, in Worcester, Mass. Image Credits: AP Photo/Charles Krupa

    Drones Still Far from Matching Bats’ Precision

    There’s still a significant gap between the drones and real bats, which can finely control their muscles to focus on specific echoes and detect objects as tiny as a human hair from several meters away.

    “Bats are incredible,” Sanket said. “We’re far from replicating what nature can do, but the aim is that, eventually, our drones will reach that level and be practical for use in real-world deployments.”

    Read the original article on: Tech Xplore

    Read more: As AI Develops Further, it Could Become More Self-Serving

  • Millisign Tech Guides Drones with Battery-Less Ground Tags

    Millisign Tech Guides Drones with Battery-Less Ground Tags

    Autonomous drones often depend on visual cues for precise location, but they face challenges in dark, rainy, or foggy conditions when ground-based lights are unavailable.
    A millimeter-wave-radar-equipped drone takes off for a test of the Millisign system
    NTT

    Autonomous drones often depend on visual cues for precise location, but they face challenges in dark, rainy, or foggy conditions when ground-based lights are unavailable.

    This is where the Millisign system, created by researchers from Japan’s NTT Corporation and The University of Tokyo, comes into play. Millisign utilizes oversized RFID (radio frequency identification) tags, similar to those found on various products.

    Harnessing Radio Signals for Tag Communication

    In a typical RFID system, a battery-less tag is briefly powered by a radio signal emitted from a handheld RFID reader. The tag then employs an integrated antenna to send back a modified signal to the reader, conveying information like product type, manufacturing date, and so on.

    In Millisign, a compact millimeter wave radar unit mounted on a drone replaces the handheld reader. When one of the large tags on a landing pad receives a radio signal from this unit, it sends a response signal to the drone.

    This response indicates the tag or pad’s location in relation to the drone, enabling the aircraft to find it even when not in direct sight. The strength of the received signal determines the proximity of the drone to its target.

    Besides their use on landing pads, Millisign tags could also serve as navigational beacons along a drone’s delivery route 
    NTT

    Crucially, Millisign tags include corner reflectors that enable them to transmit and receive signals across a broad three-dimensional angle. In the present iteration of the system, a 292 x 600-mm (11.5 x 23.6-in) tag can be detected by an airborne drone from a range of 10 to 15 meters (33 to 49 ft). In contrast, conventional RFID tags, using a flat antenna, have a significantly shorter and narrower range.

    However, with all these advantages in mind, one might wonder why drones couldn’t simply rely on GPS instead.

    High Costs and Complex Infrastructure

    “When contemplating a landing situation that relies on GPS, acquiring relative positions mandates the use of two GPS modules on a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) and a landing port, along with a communication channel connecting them. This leads to substantial installation and maintenance expenses,” explained NTT research engineer Tatsuya Iizuka.

    Conversely, our system merely necessitates the installation of a battery-less tag at the landing ports, which is a cost-effective solution for various UAV missions conducted in areas with high access costs, like urban high-rise buildings, coastal and mountainous regions.”

    For more information about the Millisign system, please refer to the accompanying video.

    世界初、 ドローンの航法精度を向上するミリ波RFIDタグを開発　～夜間、霧、雨などの視界不良下でも稼働し続ける空のセンサネットワークの実現へ～

    Read the original article on: New Atlas

    Read more: The US Military Plans to Use Thousands of Autonomous Combat Drones Against China

  • Drone Research Center Takes Autonomous Building Repairs To The Skies

    Drone Research Center Takes Autonomous Building Repairs To The Skies

    The DroneHub project is scheduled to be implemented at the current NEST research and innovation building situated on the Empa campus in Dübendorf, Switzerland.
    The DroneHub project is scheduled to be implemented at the current NEST research and innovation building situated on the Empa campus in Dübendorf, Switzerland. Credit: Empa.

    Envision a fleet of drone(s) hovering over urban areas, diligently scanning for potential building problems, and autonomously performing repairs before they escalate. It sounds like a science fiction tale, researchers are DroneHub to turn this vision into reality.

    DroneHub will be at the current NEST research and innovation building on the Empa campus in Dübendorf, Switzerland. The project, under the leadership of Mirko Kovac, will concentrate on various research areas.

    The project will entail the installation of a drone aviary atop the current building structure. This aviary will be using tubular frames and metal mesh, spanning a height of 11 meters (36 feet) and covering an area of 90 square meters (968 square feet). Within this aviary, an experimental facade will be featuring interchangeable surfaces and materials. The utilization of Aerial Additive Manufacturing drones, which function similarly to 3D printers by extruding a cement-like mixture through a nozzle, will be to diagnose and repair any issues identified. in the facade.

    Furthermore, DroneHub will encompass research concerning the utilization of drones for monitoring climate change in forest-like environments. To facilitate this, a small natural area with trees and vegetation will exist, serving as a platform for the exploration of novel robotic sensing technologies. Additionally, the project will explore the development of biodegradable drones that can safely decompose after completing their intended tasks.

    Read The Original Article NewAtlas.com

    Read More Drones as Big as 747s Will Fly Cargo Around the World With Low Emissions

  • Pterodyamics Expands the Size of Its Impressive Transwing eVTOL with Increased Dihedral

    Pterodyamics Expands the Size of Its Impressive Transwing eVTOL with Increased Dihedral

    The Pterodynamics Transwing design presents a combination of compactness and stability in its VTOL and hover mode, while boasting an impressively wide wingspan during cruise mode, resulting in remarkable efficiency.
    The Pterodynamics Transwing design presents a combination of compactness and stability in its VTOL and hover mode, while boasting an impressively wide wingspan during cruise mode, resulting in remarkable efficiency.

    A recently released video demonstrates the flight of an intriguing eVTOL aircraft design on a larger scale. The Transwing platform utilizes a distinctive wing system that can fold at a dihedral angle, enabling smooth transitions between hover and cruise modes and providing significant benefits.

    Electric VTOL

    Electric VTOL aircraft that transition from vertical takeoff and landing, similar to multicopter drones, to efficient forward flight with wing lift are being developed by numerous companies. These companies, numbering in the hundreds, are competing to introduce various designs to the market, all facing a common set of challenges.

    Optimal winged flight efficiency necessitates the use of large and wide wings. However, these wings pose challenges during landing and occupy significant ground space. The straightforward approach to managing both vertical and cruise flights is to employ separate propellers for each mode. However, this approach introduces additional drawbacks such as increased parasitic drag and weight.

    Pterodynamics

    Pterodynamics, as previously discussed, claims to have developed an extremely efficient eVTOL airframe that is also remarkably compact when landed and relatively straightforward in terms of its mechanical design.

    The innovative and patented structure resembles an airplane in the process of flying forward, featuring propellers evenly positioned on its wings. However, during the landing phase, the wings retract, ultimately folding and securely storing against the fuselage’s sides.

    A Crucial Aspect

    The crucial aspect lies in the implementation of dihedral hinges that facilitate the rotation of the wings. As the wings fold, they tilt, causing them to face upwards along with the propellers when they eventually rest against the aircraft’s body. The entire transition is characterized as “aerodynamically benign,” meaning it has minimal impact on the aircraft’s aerodynamics, and it is executed seamlessly through the mechanical operation of small struts extending from the fuselage, driven by a linear actuator.

    Consequently, this design allows for the incorporation of notably broader wings compared to other eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) designs, especially in scenarios where ground space or helipad accessibility is a factor to consider. Additionally, for portable applications resembling drones, these aircraft can be conveniently stored in a compact box, fully prepared for flight.

    Pterodynamics has developed the X-P4 prototype, which features a wingspan of 4 meters (13.1 feet) and a fuselage of approximately 2 meters (6.6 feet) in length. As reported by Unmanned Systems Technology magazine, during forward flight, the aircraft utilizes only two propellers, while the other two remain in a passive folded position within their nacelles until they are required for a vertical landing.

    What The US Navy Says?

    The X-P4 has been undergoing evaluation by the US Navy as a platform for ship-to-shore logistics operations. In this role, it has the capacity to transport cargo of approximately one cubic foot, securely stored within its fuselage. This solution offers significant cost advantages compared to the existing method, which reportedly involves transporting items to Navy ships using Black Hawk helicopters or V-22 Osprey VTOL aircraft.

    A Powerful Concept

    However, the concept has the potential to scale up significantly, reaching sizes suitable for eVTOL air taxis and even beyond. In fact, a Transwing design could potentially transport 10 or more passengers from one rooftop to another, while still being able to utilize the same helipad as a five-seat Joby or a seven-seat Lilium aircraft.

    Furthermore, due to its capacity to accommodate exceptionally expansive wings and the capability to swiftly transition into cruise flight right after takeoff, this design offers the potential to be one of the most efficient eVTOL designs available. It holds the promise of maximizing the range achievable from a battery, surpassing competing designs in this aspect.

    Witness the remarkable X-P4 drone in action through the captivating video provided below. This innovative concept holds immense promise, and we eagerly anticipate the future trajectory it will follow.

    Read the original article on Newatlas.

    Read More Every day, the Solar-Powered Drone of the US Army is Achieving Unprecedented Feats.

  • Every day, the Solar-Powered Drone of the US Army is Achieving Unprecedented Feats.

    Every day, the Solar-Powered Drone of the US Army is Achieving Unprecedented Feats.

    Credit: Airbus

    The US Army has successfully flown a minimalist drone powered by solar energy continuously for over 40 days, surpassing a previous world record and indicating what could be the future of military reconnaissance.

    The challenge: Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) systems, such as satellites and drones, play a major role in protection by gathering information the military can then use to plan its operations– but they have got their limitations.

    Zephyr delivers the profits of ISR satellites and also traditional drones without many of their limits.

    While satellites can stay operational for long periods, they are expensive to launch and hard to maneuver. It could also take days for the information they collect to be transmitted to Earth– time soldiers could not have on the battlefield.

    The US Drones

    Drones are more affordable than satellites and can provide data in real-time; however, they typically run out of fuel or battery energy after a few hours or days and they can be downed by inclement climate or anti-aircraft weapons.

    A stratospheric drone: The United States Army is now testing Zephyr, a solar-powered drone built by Airbus that delivers the profits of ISR satellites and traditional drones without many of their limits.

    The remote-operated aircraft flies in the stratosphere, meaning it is above the weather conditions that may ground a traditional drone. The location is also high sufficient for Zephyr to survey a wide land region. However, close sufficient to Earth’s surface that it can provide data in near-real time.

    The solar-powered drone is hand-launched from a runway, no need to pay for a rocket, and despite having a wingspan of eighty-two feet, it weighs just 165 pounds.

    The drone’s lightweight design enables it to remain airborne by consuming approximately the same amount of electricity as a typical commercial light bulb. This is made possible by the solar panels that cover almost every inch of the aircraft’s exterior surface and its internal batteries. The most remarkable point about Zephyr, though, is its endurance.

    In 2018, one of the aircraft flew for almost twenty-six days direct, and one Zephyr, the Military launched on June 15th, 2022, was still flying as of July 29th, setting a new world record for long-endurance flight while entertaining followers with its flight patterns.

    Zephyr

    There is no word on when that Zephyr will land, but the Army stated on July 21st that it planned to launch another one “in the coming weeks” as part of its continued testing of the aircraft.

    Although the military is interested in incorporating Zephyr into its ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) arsenal, the potential uses for the lightweight solar-powered drone extend beyond the military and could also apply to civilian operations.

    In 2021, Airbus and also Japanese smartphone driver NTT Docomo conducted a test demonstrating just how Zephyrs might provide wireless broadband connection to people on the ground– assisting in shutting the electronic divide.

    “Billions of people worldwide suffer from poor or no connectivity,” stated Stephane Ginoux, head of the North Asia area for Airbus. “The results of these tests demonstrate to us that it is possible to use Zephyr to establish direct-to-device connectivity in the stratosphere, without the need for additional infrastructure or base stations.”

    Read the original article on Free Think.

  • Researchers Introduce a New Generation of Tiny Insect-Inspired Flying Robots

    Researchers Introduce a New Generation of Tiny Insect-Inspired Flying Robots

    Insects’ remarkable acrobatic traits help them navigate the aerial world, with all of its wind gusts, obstacles, and general uncertainty. Such traits are also hard to build into flying robots — but MIT Assistant Professor Kevin Yufeng Chen has built a system that approaches insects’ agility. Credit: courtesy of Kevin Yufeng Chen

    The use of advanced technology has the potential to enhance the capabilities of aerial robots, enabling them to operate effectively in small rooms and withstand collisions. MIT Assistant Professor Kevin Yufeng Chen has developed a system that mimics the agility observed in insects, acknowledging their remarkable acrobatic skills and resilience during flight.

    By employing soft actuators, Chen has created insect-sized drones that possess exceptional agility and durability, capable of enduring the challenges encountered in real-world flight. Chen envisions that these robotics advancements could eventually assist humans in tasks such as cross-pollinating plants or conducting machinery inspections in confined spaces. The research conducted by Chen and his team, including collaborators from MIT, Harvard College, and City College of Hong Kong, has been published in the IEEE Transactions on Robotics.

    The typical requirement for drones is to operate in open spaces because they lack the agility and durability to navigate confined areas or handle collisions. However, MIT Assistant Professor Kevin Yufeng Chen has questioned whether it is possible to develop insect-sized robots capable of maneuvering in complex and chaotic spaces.

    Overcoming Construction Challenges

    Chen recognizes that building small airborne robots presents significant challenges as they require different construction approaches compared to larger drones. While piezoelectric ceramic materials have been used in the past, they are not resilient enough for insect-like robots that need to withstand collisions.

    To address this, Chen has developed a more robust small drone using soft actuators made of thin rubber tubes coated with carbon nanotubes. When voltage is applied, the carbon nanotubes generate an electrostatic force that causes the rubber cylinder to contract and expand, enabling the wings of the drone to beat rapidly.

    Flapping Wings and Endless Possibilities

    These soft actuators allow the drone to flap up to 500 times per second, providing insect-like resilience and agility. Weighing only 0.6 grams, the drone resembles a small cassette tape with wings. Chen’s innovation has potential applications in various fields such as inspections of machinery, artificial pollination of crops, and search-and-rescue missions. By developing insect-scale robots, Chen aims to gain insights into the biology and physics of insect flight and apply them to practical industries.

    The soft actuators’ ability to withstand collisions without affecting flight makes the drones suitable for navigating cluttered environments. However, further advancements are needed to reduce the operating voltage and enable untethered flights in real-world settings, according to Farrell Helbling, an assistant professor at Cornell University. Chen’s research not only contributes to entomology but also has practical implications for industry and agriculture, where large-scale robots may not be suitable for certain tasks.

    Originally published by scitechdaily.com

    Reference: “Collision Resilient Insect-Scale Soft-Actuated Aerial Robots With High Agility” by YuFeng Chen, Siyi Xu, Zhijian Ren and Pakpong Chirarattananon, 18 February 2021, IEEE Transactions on Robotics.
    DOI: 10.1109/TRO.2021.3053647

    Read more: Found in Vietnam and Cambodia Mosquitoes Extremely Resistant to Insecticides

  • Secrets of Highly Efficient Swimming Uncovered for Design of Next-Generation Underwater Drones

    Secrets of Highly Efficient Swimming Uncovered for Design of Next-Generation Underwater Drones

    Fish are thought to adjust their tail stiffness in order to swim efficiently over a wide range of speeds, but how and when they tune the amount of stiffness has been a mystery. A model created by University of Virginia School of Engineering researchers that combines robotics, fluid dynamics and biomechanics has revealed the secret of stiffness tuning and allowed a fishlike robot to swim much more efficiently than a fish without a tunable tail. Credit: Dan Quinn and Qiang Zhong

    Unlocking Efficient Underwater Travel: University of Virginia researchers uncover the secrets of adaptable swimming speeds, revolutionizing the design of next-generation underwater drones.

    Traditional underwater vehicles are limited to specific cruising speeds, lacking the versatility seen in fish swimming at varying speeds. Imagine the need for underwater vehicles to swiftly traverse vast ocean distances, then slow down for precise mapping of a narrow coral reef, or accelerate to reach an oil spill site while maintaining accuracy in measurements.

    Dan Quinn

    To tackle this challenge, Assistant Professor Dan Quinn and postdoctoral researcher Qiang Zhong from the University of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Science have developed a fundamental approach to enable multi-speed missions. Their findings, published in Science Robotics, present a simple yet groundbreaking method applicable to underwater vehicle design.

    Determining the optimal stiffness of the propelling element in swimming robots has long been a complex question for scientists. The same level of rigidity that performs well in certain scenarios may fail in others.

    Quinn compares the rigidity issue to having only one gear ratio on a bicycle. It would be efficient only at one speed, akin to riding a fixed-gear bike through hilly San Francisco, resulting in exhaustion after a short distance.

    Fish, on the other hand, appear to solve this dilemma by dynamically adjusting their stiffness in response to different circumstances. However, measuring the stiffness of swimming fish is challenging, making it difficult to understand their methods. To address this, Quinn and Zhong combined fluid dynamics, biomechanics, and robotics to derive a model for tail stiffness and its tunability.

    Tunable Stiffness Unlocks Versatile Speeds and Enhanced Energy Efficiency in Fish-Like Robots

    Their mathematical analysis yielded a remarkably simple result: stiffness should increase with the square of swimming speed. To validate their concept, they built a fish-like robot equipped with a programmable artificial tendon to adjust tail stiffness while swimming in a water channel. The outcome was remarkable— the robot exhibited a broader range of speeds while consuming nearly half the energy compared to a robot with a fixed-stiffness tail.

    Zhong emphasized that their work is the first to comprehensively study tail stiffness by integrating biomechanics, fluid dynamics, and robotics. Their approach not only sheds light on the long-standing mystery of how tail stiffness impacts swimming efficiency but also provides a practical guideline for implementing tunable stiffness. In realistic swimming missions, the proposed tunable stiffness technique demonstrated high-speed and high-efficiency swimming.

    With the benefits of tunable stiffness modeled, the team aims to extend their approach to other swimming styles. While the initial robot design mimicked a tuna, they plan to explore scaling up to dolphins or down to tadpoles. Additionally, they are developing a robot capable of replicating the undulating movements of stingrays.

    Quinn expressed that the team’s endeavors are far from over, as every marine creature they study inspires new insights for the advancement of swimming robots. With countless fish species yet to be explored, the possibilities for innovation are vast.

    Originally published by scitechdaily.com

    Reference: “Tunable stiffness enables fast and efficient swimming in fish-like robots” by Q. Zhong, J. Zhu, F. E. Fish, S. J. Kerr, A. M. Downs, H. Bart-Smith and D. B. Quinn, 11 August 2021, Science Robotics.
    DOI: 10.1126/scirobotics.abe4088

    Read more: Researchers Design Compact High-Power Laser Using Plasma Optics