Rabu, 02 Mei 2012

Mimicking Mother Nature: The flying robot that can slow down and land like a bird

Mimicking Mother Nature: The flying robot that can slow down and land like a bird

By Daniel Bates

PUBLISHED: 10:22 EST, 2 May 2012 | UPDATED: 10:22 EST, 2 May 2012

Manoeuvering its wings as it flies through the air, it looks like any normal bird coming in for a landing.

But, rather than the snappy handiwork of Mother Nature, this winged one is the first robot ever created that is capable of 'perching' - or landing like a bird.

The micro aerial vehicle (MAV) managed to slow itself down and perch on a human hand, even though it was thrown off a ladder with force.

First Successful Perching on a Human Hand by a Robotic Bird Airplane First Successful Perching on a Human Hand by a Robotic Bird Airplane

On a wing and a flare: The micro aerial vehicle (MAV to its friends) is seen here in time-lapse composite photos. Its wings change shape and angle so that the MAV slows down and drops onto its landing target

An astonishing video posted on YouTube shows it swooping in and easing itself down using its wings after being thrown by one of the researchers.

The MAV was inspired by the natural design of a bird’s wings, which are capable of manoeuvering to a very precise level.

By shaping their wings, birds can slow themselves down so they stall above a given point - gracefully dropping down onto a perch or ledge.  

Wings up: Five different control zones allows the MAV to do what it does. With its wings high, abaove, it has greater manoeuverability at low speeds

Wings up: Five different control zones allows the MAV to do what it does. With its wings high, abaove, it has greater manoeuverability at low speeds

Wings down: A rudder-less tail moves up and down to control the pitch (descent/climb) of the craft, and the wings can move independently for greater control while in flight

Wings down: A rudder-less tail moves up and down to control the pitch (descent/climb) of the craft, and the wings can move independently for greater control while in flight

Helicopters employ a similar principle when landing. Called 'flaring', pilots angle the rotors so that the machine dramatically slows down before landing.

The manoeuvre was thought to be impossible for fixed-wing craft - until now.

Furthermore, the MAV does not have a vertical tail shape like conventional aircraft. Instead it has articulated wings and a pitching tail that work together to let it glide into position before making sure it lands on its target.

The researchers, from the University of Illinois, said this was challenging because it required a high level of accuracy - and the bird only has a short time to adjust before landing.

Coming in to land: The MAV zeros in on its target - for this test it is a human hand. Other tests have included the craft landing on fixed perches and office furniture

Coming in to land: The MAV zeros in on its target - for this test it is a human hand. Other tests have included the craft landing on fixed perches and office furniture

The robots could one day be used for a variety of purposes, such as high-tech toys for children, and could lead to the development of vertical-landing aircraft.

Soon-Jo Chung, an assistant professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Illinois, said: ‘We believe we have the first demonstration of autonomous/robotic flight of a bird-like micro aerial vehicle perching on a human hand’.

Aditya Paranjape, a post-doctoral scholar who also worked on the project, added: ‘We have developed an articulated-wing-based concept for an agile robotic aircraft inspired by birds. Of all manoeuvers executed by flapping wing aircraft in a gliding phase, a perched landing is arguably the most challenging.’

 

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