As annoying as pesky fruit flies can be, their ability to hover yet zip around quickly makes them another of nature’s marvels. An organism’s ability to fly has long intrigued scientists. Besides the complexity of their wing motions and aerodynamics, how flying organisms can make agile maneuvers has also long been a source of study.
Biologists aren’t the only scientists excited about this kind of study. For more than a decade, Researchers in the Micro Air Vehicle Laboratory (MAVLab) at Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) have been trying to create small, lightweight and agile flying robots. Building on that experience, the team developed DelFly Nimble. The difference between this robot and others like it is that this one is autonomous and free-flying, as well as has a higher flight endurance.
“Insect-inspired drones have a high potential for novel applications, as they are light-weight, safe around humans and are able to fly more efficiently than more traditional drone designs, especially at smaller scales,” said MAVLab Professor Guido de Croon. “However, until now, these flying robots had not realized this potential since they were either not agile enough, such as our DelFly II, or they required an overly complex manufacturing process.”
To help mimic a fruit fly’s ability, TU Delft worked with Wageningen University & Research (WUR) to gain a better understanding of the biology behind the insect’s swift skills and maneuvers that enable it to aggressively escape danger.
“When I first saw the robot flying, I was amazed at how closely its flight resembled that of insects, especially when maneuvering,” said Florian Muijres, professor of WURs Experimental Zoology group. “I immediately thought we could actually employ it to research insect flight control and dynamics.”
With Muijres’ contributions, DelFly Nimble has proven to be a success for the team. Similar to its natural counterpart, the robot’s wings beat 17 times per second, which provides the lift it needs to stay aloft and allows for flight control through wing adjustment. DelFly Nimble has a top speed of around 15mph and can complete complex maneuvers like a 360-degree flip. In addition, its control mechanisms allow it hover or fly in any direction.
“In contrast to animal experiments, we were in full control of what was happening in the robot’s ‘brain,’” said Matěj Karásek, the study’s lead author and robot designer. “This allowed us to identify and describe a new passive aerodynamic mechanism that assists the flies, but possibly also other flying animals, in steering their direction throughout these rapid banked turns.”
With a 33cm wingspan and 29g weight, along with its ability to hover for five minutes and fly nearly a mile on a full charge, DelFly Nimble’s size and efficiency have the potential to open new doors with regard to drone applications. Its programmability also makes it a potential new tool for the study of insect flight.
While the team has made significant progress with its newest robot, it plans to continue developing and refining DelFly Nimble. Click here to see the robot in action.
Interested in more robotic innovations? Check out Biorobotics Takes a Giant Stride with Cyborg Cockroaches and Soft Microrobots Take an Eight-Legged Leap Forward.