Shape-shifting aerial DRAGON bot

By Charles Carter, 8/9/22

Innovators at Tokyo University (M. Zhao, K. Okada, M. Inaba) have created an articulated aerial robot with that can change shape and manipulate objects in mid-air. They named it DRAGON, but with no fire breathing functionality yet, Game of Thrones fans will be left somewhat disappointed.

The jointed bot can arrange itself in a loop shape such that it can grasp and let go of objects like a 1kg barrel or turn an industrial valve with the use of an attachment.

The concept explores replacing human labour at height to boost safety and efficiency. Why not just use a conventional multi-copter drone though?

Zhao and colleagues say their unique design helps overcome stability issues that arise when conventional drones attempt to apply force to objects, and it does it in an efficient way.

How does it work?

DRAGON consists of four link modules each with a pair of rotors attached. The modules are connected with orthogonal joints that are powered by independent electric motors. Each rotor apparatus has two degrees of freedom.

The combination of these components and a clever algorithm in the control unit give the bot vectorable thrust, which means it can manipulate the direction of thrust, for each rotor pair and the sum of all combined.

Tangent box (Algorithm -> Al Gore): What does a set of mathematical rules and a former US vice president have in common? Al Gore Rhythm of course. (hmm…OK, but why? Tangential thinking is key for creativity and innovation)

What are the potential benefits?

Conventional multi-copter drones are already producing value in many areas such as disaster relief, surveillance and inspection. For example, they provide remote vision to operators out of harms ways and can pick up and drop of packages to people in need.

But sometimes, it would be useful if the drone could also manipulate hard to reach objects in a more complex way e.g. in nuclear decommissioning. When attempting to do this with an arm-like attachment say, exerting force on the object would induce a large rotational load which could easily knock a conventional drone off balance, and out of the sky.

Because of the versatile nature of the DRAGON, with its vectorable thrust, its creators say it is better able to maintain aerial stability while also using its body as the interaction mechanism.

What are the costs?

DRAGON is not available to purchase and there is no publicly available information on the cost of development.

Questions for you. Comment below

1. First thought that comes into your head?
2. Pros and cons according to you?
3. Agree with our creativity breakdown?
4. Other applications of this approach?
5. What could this be combined with?

Links

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/02783649221112446?journalCode=ijra

http://www.jsk.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/~chou/