Engineers from Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands have developed a drone capable of determining a landing location using touch. The results of the study were published in the journal npj Robotics.
Instead of a camera, the aircraft was equipped with a three-fingered hand equipped with touch sensors.
The drone begins by roughly estimating the branch's position and doesn't attempt to grasp it immediately. Instead, it performs a searching maneuver in the form of an eight-pointed path, simultaneously opening and closing its prongs.
The first touch gives an indication of the branch's location, then the drone adjusts its position until all three fingers are in firm contact. A failed attempt does not result in a crash; the drone simply moves to a safe location and begins the search again.
Each sensor transmits only a simple indication that contact has occurred. However, the system, relying on its knowledge of hand position, calculates the angle and location of the branch through multiple touches. According to one of the study's participants, Salou Hamza, this principle is inspired by birds, which use both sight and touch when landing.
The fingers are equipped with soft silicone pads, while springs maintain a firm grip without consuming power. Once attached to the branch, the drone shuts off its engines and can remain stationary for extended periods of surveillance.
Tests showed that the system retains its functionality even in cases of errors in the initial assessment of the branch's position, size, and orientation. After landing, the drone can switch off its motors and use the branch as a support, thus conserving battery power during extended monitoring of the surrounding environment.
The developers believe this technology could be useful for working in tree canopies, among complex industrial structures, and in other places where cameras don't always provide reliable information. In this system, contact with surrounding objects is no longer an obstacle to be avoided, but rather an additional means of gathering data about the world.
Drones can also be used in forests, industrial facilities, and anywhere else where visibility is limited.
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