This bird-inspired drone is more energy efficient and proficient at complex flight maneuvers

Dec 7, 2024

EPFL unveils RAVEN, a bird-inspired drone with efficient, versatile flight capabilities.

This bird-inspired drone is more energy efficient and proficient at complex flight maneuvers

: EPFL researchers have designed RAVEN, a drone inspired by birds, to enhance energy efficiency and flight maneuvers. By incorporating multifunctional legs, the drone can rapidly take off, walk, and hop, mimicking bird movements. These features allow RAVEN to operate in varied and complex terrains, improving its utility across environments compared to traditional drones. The development involved balancing mechanical complexity and weight using mathematical models and simulations.

The École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) has developed an innovative drone named RAVEN, inspired by avian flight mechanics. Unlike traditional drones, RAVEN's design features bird-like hind limbs that allow it to take off more swiftly and perform complex maneuvers similar to real birds.

By adding legs to the drone, the researchers at EPFL focused on maximizing gait diversity while minimizing mass. The drone's mechanical limbs allow it to take off energetically, walk on the ground, and hop over obstacles, enhancing both its efficiency and versatility.

Through the integration of powerful springs and motors that imitate biological tendons and muscles, RAVEN maintains an optimal balance between mechanical intricacy and overall weight. Its ability to autonomously navigate and operate in complex terrains presents potential deployment opportunities surpassing those of conventional fixed-wing drones.