A team of Chinese engineers from Zhejiang University has developed a new class of biomimetic soft drone grippers inspired by climbing plants. These innovative grippers enable unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to perform delicate tasks, such as retrieving a key hanging from a tree branch or collecting debris from moving water.
Existing UAV grippers often face challenges when dynamically grasping objects in complex environments. Drawing inspiration from nature, the researchers designed two U-shaped, eccentric circular tube actuators. The U-shaped bending ability of these actuators allows UAVs to grasp objects using a hook or vine-like rope, resulting in plant-inspired grippers that are soft and self-adaptive enough to achieve powerful manipulation.
The gripper inspired by soft tendril climbers is designed for delicate grasping, while the one inspired by hook climbers is suited for tasks requiring a strong grip. According to the study published as a cover story in the latest edition of the journal Science Advances, these advancements will allow UAVs to better interact with both delicate and heavy objects.
These improvements enable UAVs to perform well in multiple environments, paving the way for environmental protection tasks such as removing garbage from rivers. The researchers noted that soft grippers can also be used for efficient UAV transportation in challenging terrains, like steep mountain slopes, by winding around or hooking objects with manual assistance.
This development represents a significant step forward in UAV technology, combining robotics with biomimicry to create versatile and adaptive tools capable of performing complex tasks in diverse settings.
Reference(s):
China develops plant-inspired soft drone grippers for delicate tasks
cgtn.com
