Scientists have today unveiled a gecko-inspired robot that can crash into and latch onto trees to help inspect and maintain them.
The innovative design sees the robot, called PercHug, crash into the trunk of a tree and wrap its wings around it to hold it and keep it in place.
Scientists believe the robot could be used for inspection, maintenance and biodiversity conservation, inspired by the movements of bats, geckos and squirrels.
It has been created by a team from Laboratory of Intelligent Systems at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL).
The researchers say: ‘While flying animals substantially reduce their kinetic energy at landing by wing flapping, specialised gliders, like flying squirrels and geckos, land on trees at high speeds and endure elevated forces utilising their limbs or head.
The moment the PercHug drone crashes into the tree and latches onto it
An upturned nose design means the robot can passively reorient from horizontal flight to vertical upon a head-on crash with a pole, followed by hugging with its wings to perch
‘We took inspiration from flying geckos, which exhibit head-first crash-landing at speeds.’
Perching with winged Unmanned Aerial Vehicles has often been solved by means of complex control or intricate appendages.
The team investigated a method that relies on passive wing morphing for crash-landing on trees and other types of vertical poles.
An upturned nose design means the robot can passively reorient from horizontal flight to vertical upon a head-on crash with a pole, followed by hugging with its wings to perch.
Scientists believe the robot could be used for inspection, maintenance and biodiversity conservation, inspired by the movements of bats, geckos and squirrels
The PercHug robot seen flying through the air before latching onto the tree trunk
The team say: ‘Inspired by the adaptability of animals’ and bats’ limbs in gripping and holding onto trees, we design dual-purpose wings that enable both aerial gliding and perching on poles.’
They were able to demonstrate ‘crash-perching’ on tree trunks with an overall success rate of 73%
‘The method opens up new possibilities for the use of aerial robots in applications such as inspection, maintenance, and biodiversity conservation,’ the team add.
A paper on the project is published in the journal Communications Engineering.