Within a year of presenting its innovative cannon-launched drone at IROS 2019, Caltech and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab have already taken the design to new levels. The original 3-inch version of the Streamlined Quick Unfolding Investigation Drone (SQUID), which is now a micro-SQUID, has been upgraded in size and abilities. The new 6-inch tube-launched version is autonomous with added launching capabilities.
The research began as a way to enhance the process of launching an exploration drone, as well as the calibrations needed for success once it is airborne. The team focused on a ballistically launched multirotor drone that could fold up with its fins and be launched using compressed CO2. Once airborne, it would unfold, stabilize, and fly. The goal was also to ensure that the aircraft went straight up even if launched from a moving vehicle, thus making it an ideal exploration tool for first responders, ships at sea, and airborne aircraft.
The original prototype weighed 530 grams and was 27 centimeters long. When folded, it was 8 centimeters in diameter. It was successfully tested from a fast-moving truck. The folded arms, held in place with a monofilament line, are heated by a nichrome wire, enabling them to be released and to snap into place within 70 milliseconds. Once the drone stabilizes, it only takes a second to be ready for normal control.
Considering the potential need for larger payloads and making it mission capable, the team quickly set its sights on a 6-inch version. The latest version of SQUID features a more aerodynamic design, autonomous hardware—including a camera (FLIR Chameleon3), rangefinder (TeraRanger Evo 60m), IMU/barometer (VectorNav VN-100), and onboard computer (NVIDIA Jetson TX2)—and a half-dozen rotors.
While the original prototype was designed for scalability, creating a larger version still left the team with challenges. Since the first phase of the launch is a ballistic trajectory flight and not flying, structural changes were needed. The nose, which houses the battery, was given a higher center of mass. Another issue was getting everything to fit, since this drone was volume constrained, meaning everything needed to fit within the tube with the fins closed. The result was optimized components with a final weight of around 3.3 kilograms.
According to the researchers, facing these challenges was important for a number of reasons. Since the drone requires no setting up or unpacking, it is faster to launch. The fact that it launches quickly makes it safer. Along with the ability to launch while moving, it can also launch through tight spaces, such as through tree canopies, if needed.
Although SQUID has been designed for Earth operations, its adaptability makes it a prime future option for exploring Mars and Titan. The capability to launch from a rover without added terrain constraints would provide many benefits. Autonomous deployment of mission-enabled drones could reduce the need for larger, more expensive landers.
Interested in other ways drones may be making a big impact? Check out Large-scale Disinfectant Drone Developed by Startup EagleHawk and The Future Top Gun’s Wingman Will be a Drone.