In Tokyo, engineer Moju Zhao has developed a transformative drone, named DRAGON, that can change its shape mid-flight to navigate tight spaces. The acronym DRAGON stands for "Dual-rotor embedded multilink Robot with the Ability of multi-deGree-of-freedom aerial transformatiON." Made of multiple modules connected by battery-powered hinged joints, the drone can autonomously decide on its shape formations. Currently, it can stay airborne for three minutes, but the team aims to add more modules and grippers for object manipulation. The long-term vision is for the DRAGON to transition between flying and walking. Its design, reminiscent of serpentine shapes, is inspired by ancient Asian dragon mythology. This aligns with Japan's futuristic drone roadmap which encompasses applications in delivery, farming, and unique solutions such as drone-powered parasols.
Meanwhile, MIT has developed insect-sized drones that use soft actuators mimicking the agility of bugs. These micro-drones are resilient, capable of withstanding collisions, and even perform aerial somersaults. The drones have potential applications ranging from pollinating crops and inspecting machinery to search and rescue missions. The soft actuators are made of thin rubber cylinders coated in carbon nanotubes. When voltage is applied, an electrostatic force is produced, causing the rubber to expand and contract, resulting in wing flapping. MIT's fabrication process involves layering elastomer and electrode, each as thin as a red blood cell, leading to power-efficient and resilient drones.
In summary, the future of drone technology is being shaped by nature-inspired designs and advanced fabrication techniques, enabling operations in previously challenging environments.
