This shape-shifting drone can transform in mid-air

https://nypost.com/2018/07/02/this-shape-=hifting-drone-can-transform-in-mid-air/?utm_source=maropost&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=nypevening&utm_content=20180702&mpweb=3D755-7096552-719004712 https://nypost.com/2018/07/02/th=s-shape-shifting-drone-can-transform-in-mid-air/?utm_source=maropost&=tm_medium=email&utm_campaign=nypevening&utm_content=20180702&=mp;mpweb=755-7096552-719004712

Th=s shape-shifting drone can transform in mid-air

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When you think of a drone, you probably imagine a small machine with four=propellers and a camera strapped to the bottom. That's what most co=sumer drones look like, but the team at JSK Lab at the Un=versity of Tokyo http://www.jsk.t.u-tokyo=ac.jp/index.html have built a fascinating new drone they call DRAGON, w=ich stands for "Dual-rotor embedded multilink Robot with the Abilit= of multi-deGree-of-freedom aerial transformatiON." No, that is not=a joke. It's really called that.

As IEEE Spectrum explains, https://spectrum.ieee.org/automaton=robotics/drones/flying-dragon-robot-transforms-itself-to-squeeze-through-ga=s t=e drone is made up of several smaller modules, powered by ducted fans and a=tached to one another by hinged joints, giving the drone the ability to tra=sform while in motion. Each of the modules can roll and pitch in virtually a=y direction, which means the drone can snake through the smallest of openin=s.

In the video, you can see the drone contort it=elf in such a way that it can slide through a small opening without getting=stuck or hitting the bars on the sides. Even more impressive, the creators s=y that the drone is actually able to autonomously decide how to change shap= based on the scenario. The device in the video is just a prototype, but th= possibilities of a thinking drone can morph to solve problems are endless.=/p>

Fan Shi of JSK Lab describes the drone as Q=9Ca breakthrough in hardware design which, in a beautiful way, connects a m=nipulation arm with a ducted fan-driven aerial robot." DRAGON could=be "an ideal platform for aerial manipulation and I really look for=ard to its further applications and research."

Richard Kahn
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