Flying Rescue: How a Bird‑Inspired Robot Could Deliver Parcels and Save Lives in Remote Areas
Cutting‑Edge Robot Tailored for Remote Tasks
Potential Uses
- Emergency response operations
- Covert parcel distribution in isolated areas
Scaling Up for Greater Reach
Engineers anticipate that expanding the device’s size would enable it to traverse rugged landscapes and deliver critical supplies to hard‑to‑access locations.
Key Advantages
By increasing its dimensions, the robot gains the ability to carry larger payloads, maintain stability on uneven ground, and extend its operational range.
Bird‑Inspired Robot Takes Flight from Ground Without Runway
The research team at EPFL has unveiled a new fixed‑wing drone that emulates the natural movements of birds, enabling it to leap from the ground into the air without the need for a runway.
Robotic Design Mimics Avian Movement
Unlike traditional multirotor drones, this machine uses a pair of articulated legs and a V‑shaped tail to execute a graceful jump that initiates flight. The design emphasizes the role of the legs—just as birds rely on them for take‑off—while leaving the wings to manage lift and steering.
Key Features of “RAVEN”
- Hip and Ankle Actuators: Two key joints allow the robot to adjust its stance before launch.
- Tail‑Shaped Stabilizer: Helps maintain balance during the transition from ground to air.
- Jump‑Powered Take‑off: The robot propels itself upward through a powered hop, mimicking natural bird take‑off behaviour.
- Two‑Leg Structure: Offers a bird‑like appearance and functional symmetry.
Birds and Robots: A Shared Takeoff Mechanism
By observing passers‑by crows on the university campus, the lead researcher, Won Dong Shin, recognized that a bird’s ability to launch from a cluttered environment offers a valuable blueprint for robotic deployment in disaster zones.
Shin explained, “Our goal was to create a fixed‑wing drone suited for disaster response. In tightly packed areas, a bird’s navigation style proves to be the most effective.” He highlighted that the jump‑based takeoff method is more energy‑efficient than relying solely on propellers.
This “RAVEN” robot marks a significant step toward bridging biological insight and engineering design, promising faster, more adaptable robotic assisted operations in challenging environments.
Accessing remote locations
Innovative Fold‑Wing Drone for Rescue and Delivery
Expanding Capabilities Beyond the Lab
The Swiss scientists explain that by enlarging the current prototype, the machine could serve in both emergency response and remote‑area package transport. The vehicle first uses a fixed‑wing portion to glide quickly to a target zone, then detaches the wing and lands as a ground robot that can walk or hop to its final location.
Flying and Rolling in One Step
- Fixed‑wing launch: Rapid arrival at hard‑to‑reach spots.
- Automated landing: Sensors guide the transition from air to earth.
- Ground mobility: The robot then moves on foot or by short jumps.
- Take‑off &‑ return: Once the mission is finished, the wing is unstiffened and the drone lifts off again for the next assignment.
Bird‑Like Design for Narrow Passages
Future models will incorporate foldable wings that can collapse, allowing the unit to slip through confined corridors—much like a bird folding its feathers for flight. This feature is expected to broaden the range of areas that can be inspected or supplied during search‑and‑rescue operations.
Autonomous Operations
With additional environmental sensors, the robot will be able to navigate and land without human intervention, a critical advantage when operating in hazardous or inaccessible settings.
Findings were published in the December issue of the journal Nature.
