A drone created by a team led by Kazuki Sugihara, a master’s student in robotics at the University of Tokyo, has the ability to alternate between flight and a rolling motion. This breakthrough could be crucial for rescue operations in disaster-stricken areas, facilitating the search for people trapped under rubble.
Called Delta, this drone incorporates a unique ring-shaped structure composed of three interconnected curved segments. Each segment is equipped with a motor and a propeller, which are mounted on a transverse rod. This design allows the propellers to be oriented in multiple directions, offering remarkable versatility in handling and displacement.
How does the Delta ring drone work?
In flight mode, the Delta maintains its structure in a horizontal position, allowing the propellers to propel the aircraft upwards. In addition, it has the ability to partially disassemble the links between its segments during flight, thus adapting to confined spaces and performing maneuvers that would be impossible for fixed-structure drones.
Landing and transforming into a wheel is another of the Delta’s outstanding functions. For this purpose, it is laid on its side and by means of a coordinated adjustment of the propellers, it is lifted to an upright position. A microprocessor adjusts the angles of the propellers to propel and steer the drone in its rolling form, a capability that significantly reduces power consumption compared to continuous flight.
Importantly, researchers are working to improve the Delta’s adaptability to more uneven terrain and to integrate terrain assessment systems using advanced sensors. This research is available in the arXiv academic archive and is expected to lead to practical applications in the near future.
Possible future applications of the wheeled drone
Looking ahead, the potential applications of the Delta drone are vast. Beyond search and rescue in disasters, this drone could be used in the exploration of inaccessible areas, such as hard-to-reach areas in mountains or forest reserves, for scientific research or environmental monitoring.
The ability to switch between flight and ground modes opens up new possibilities for detailed mapping and ecosystem studies, providing valuable tools for biologists and geologists.
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Source and photo: newatlas.com
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