The use of drones continues to expand, including transportation of goods, spraying of pesticides, confirmation of disaster damage, and military purposes. To further expand the use of drones, a research team at Stanford University has recently developed a robot to be mounted on the drone so that it can grab and stop irregularly shaped objects such as tree branches.
Mark Cutkosky of Stanford University and David Lentink of the University of Groningen in the Netherlands focus on how Hayabusa uses his claws to catch prey at high speed and grab objects when landing. We have created a robot "SNAG (Stereotyped Nature-inspired Aerial Grasper)" that allows drones to land on uneven surfaces and catch objects during flight.
The SNAG was created to mimic the structure of the falcon's legs. With a 3D-printed leg skeleton and a muscular motor, SNAG can transform the impact it absorbs during landing into the action of grabbing a tree branch as fast as 20 milliseconds through a wire that acts as a tendon. .. The word "Stereotype" was included in SNAG because SNAG does the same routine actions that all birds perform when landing.
"In the case of SNAG, it's a dynamic landing, not a slow landing like a helicopter. It's like a controlled collision," Lentink said. "After the claws grab an object or surface, the ankle is fixed. When the accelerometer detects the robot's stop, a balancing algorithm uses the hip motor to stabilize the robot. And SNAG is the tension of the tendon. By reducing the amount, you can release what you grabbed, return the claws to the open state, and take off again. "
If the drone can "rest" on different surfaces, it will not have to land and climb repeatedly. It also reduces the battery consumption of the drone because it eliminates the need for hovering to stand still in the air.
Cutkosky and Lentink designed SNAG primarily as a platform for monitoring rainforest ecosystems. It is expected to be used as a mobile camera for monitoring wild animals and as an early warning system for wildfires.
Lentink also wants to use SNAG as a "drone hunter." "For example, the problem could be that Heathrow Airport was closed because a drone was flying nearby. It would be useful if we could catch it with another drone without having to shoot it down." (Mr. Lentink)
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