The New Flying Batlike Drone

    • AP
    • Publish Date: Feb 3 2017 12:44PM
    • |
    • Updated Date: Feb 6 2017 5:12PM
The New Flying Batlike Drone
This photo provided by Alireza Ramezani, University of Illinois, shows a Bat Bot, a three-ounce flying robot that they say can be more agile at getting into treacherous places than standard drones. Because it mimics the unique and more flexible way bats fly, this new robot prototype can do a better and safer job getting into disaster sites and scoping out construction zones than those bulky drones with spinning rotors.

Holy drone, Batman! Mechanical masterminds have spawned the Bat Bot, a soaring, sweeping and diving robot that may eventually fly circles around other drones.

Why is better than its predecessors? 
Because it mimics the unique and more flexible way bats fly, this 3-ounce prototype could do a better and safer job getting into disaster sites and scoping out construction zones than bulky drones with spinning rotors, said the three authors of a study released Wednesday in the journal Science Robotics. For example, it would have been ideal for going inside the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan, said study co-author Seth Hutchinson, an engineering professor at the University of Illinois.

How does it work
The bat robot flaps its wings for better aerial maneuvers, glides to save energy and dive bombs when needed. Eventually, the researchers hope to have it perch upside down like the real thing, but that will have to wait for the robot's sequel.

The inspiration behind it
Like the fictional crime fighter Batman, the researchers turned to the flying mammal for inspiration. 

"Whenever I see bats make sharp turns and perform upside down, perching with such elegant wing movements and deformations, I get mesmerized,'
Soon-Jo Chung, professor of aerospace at the California Institute of Technology

 

"It is too early to tell if these designs will actually be superior.'
Vijay Kumar, Engineering Professor, University of Pennsylvania


Its anatomy
The Bat Bot has nine joints and measures slightly less than 8 inches from head to tail. Its super-thin membrane wings span about a foot and a half. The flexible flapping as much as 10 times per second acts "like a big power amplifier," Hutchinson said.
The researchers still need to add cameras, build more drones and get permission from federal agencies to fly them, but Hutchinson said these bat robots could be flying around work sites and disaster zones within five years. It's already taken three years and cost $1.5 million, including a team of experts from Brown University who studied bat flight, Hutchinson said.

How are the experts reacting?
Outside robotics experts were impressed, but cautious.Smaller fixed-wing drones have problems with maneuverability and four rotors are not efficient, so a bat-inspired design is "a very intriguing line of research," University of Pennsylvania engineering professor Vijay Kumar said in an email.

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Comments

Annada Dash KENDRIYA VIDYALAYA -PANVEL

wow,

Damini PADUA HIGH SCHOOL-MANKHURD

amazing

Pragya RUKMINI DEVI PUB. SCHOOL(PITAMPURA)

I loved the way it works and also it''s appearance.

SRIRAM.C Amalorpavam Higher Secondary School - Puducherry

It is a ravishing one

T.Anudeep Chakravarthi Sree Narayana Vidya Bhavan

wow wonderful

C.Elakshme devi Amalorpavam Higher Secondary School - Puducherry

Its so wonderful and mesmerising one.I like this very much.Superb.

Aditya Kumar Singh ASHOK MEMORIAL SCH SEC-35 FBD

This is an amazing robot which will work like batman.

Aditya Kumar Singh ASHOK MEMORIAL SCH SEC-35 FBD

This is an amazing robot which will work like batman.

Mehek Sayyed Padua High School , Mankhurd

Wow,Wonderful I like it''s appearance.

Safina Khatri Canossa High School, Mahim

Yet another wonder of science...Bat Bot.

S.DHEERAJ CHANDRA NEW ERA HIGH SCHOOL

Oh it''s really very amazing, I hope that Illinois makes some more interesting gadgets 🔬🔭📖

Mranal Shetty VEER BHAGAT SINGH-MALAD(W)

SUPERB !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ansh Doshi Bal Bharati Public School

It is the future coming towards the present

R.Lokeshwaran Bethel Mat Hr Sec School

Well that''s amazing

AKSHIT ASUNDI The Creek Planet School - Venus Campus

WOW! This is amazing!

gopi Sree Narayana Vidya Bhavan

Smaller fixed-wing drones have problems with maneuverability and four rotors are not efficient, so a bat-inspired design is "a very intriguing line of research," University of Pennsylvania engineering professor Vijay Kumar said in an email.

ishika ali sumermal jain public school

glimpse of nature in technology

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