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Researchers have unveiled a shuttlecock - shaped robot that can skip , walk and leap into trajectory just like a raven .
The young machine , competently called " Robotic Avian - root on Vehicle for multiple Environments " ( RAVEN ) , is a new remote - assure - drone prototype that blend a limit - flank intention with articulated legs , allowing it to traverse various surround and take off more efficiently than current drone can . The research worker published their finding in a study published Dec. 4 in the journalNature .
Although fixed - wing drones are more durable and efficient than drones with propeller wings such as quadcopters , they also require large runways to take off — similar to planes , accord to the study . Some drones are launched into the air , like how an aircraft toter launches fighter jets using an aircraft catapult , but these will not suit every potential coating for a droning . RAVEN seek to fix that problem .
This razzing - mould drone can set in motion from a raise surface , just as birds do to leap into flight . When in flight , RAVEN is power by a single propeller on its front and maneuvered with a tiltable fundament on its back .
The researcher say RAVEN is around the scale and exercising weight of a crow , at 1.3 pounds ( 600 Hans C. J. Gram ) , with a roughly 40 - in ( 100 centimeters ) wingspan and 20 - column inch ( 50 centimetre ) consistence . The team sound out these measurements are within the optimum range for balancing powerfulness and free weight .
A new way for drones to take off
The epitome can also use its flexile legs to " take the air " on the earth and traverse hard terrain . As RAVEN walks or hops around , it is kept good by a few groundbreaking features within its legs , the researchers said .
These include hip and ankle juncture to maximize the kinetic get-up-and-go produced by its jumps and an pliant toe joint that allow RAVEN to place its foot at angles without tilt the entire gimmick over .
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The team also found that jumping pasquinade are around 10 time more zip effective than static takeoffs and deliver the high mockery speeds . RAVEN can hit travesty speed of up to 7.9 feet per second ( 2.4 meters per second ) .
investigator noted that the legs alone were capable of generating 7.2 feet per 2nd ( 2.2 meter per minute ) , think that 91.7 % of the hope takeoff f number is labor by the ramification . This help justify the ramification design and shows the relatively small function the propellor plays equate to traditional aircraft .
Researchers hope RAVEN could act as as a proof of concept for big drones , or even regular - sized aircraft . This progress could massively improve the reliability and landing place potential of drone and planes , they said .
