Eagle-Claw Drone Grabs Objects In Mid-Flight

 

Now that quadrotor drones have been programed to spy on us, play music and land on wires like birds, it’s time to get down to a little fine tuning.

Up for the task is Justin Thomas and his colleagues at the University of Pennsylvania’s GRASP Lab. Drawing inspiration from the way birds of prey swoop down and seize fish from water, they’ve developed a unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with a 3D-printed talon-like gripper that’ll leave you holding onto your hat.

The team improved upon their previous quadrotor designs that only plucked objects in mid-air while the UAV was hovering. By studying an eagle’s fishing technique, the team noticed how the bird would sweep its legs and claws backwards as its talons gripped its prey. This maneuver allowed the eagle to snatch a meal in one dive-bombing swoop without slowing down.

The team was able to copy the eagle’s technique by 3D-printing a three-fingered claw and attaching it to a four-inch motorized leg. By securing the appendage below the UAV’s center of mass, the drone could grasp stationary objects while flying by.

Obviously, the only thing left to do is for GRASP Lab to add a screaming eagle sound effect to the drone.

Article from http://news.discovery.com/tech/robotics/eagle-claw-drone-grabs-objects-in-mid-flight-130315.htm#mkcpgn=fbdsc17

Original Article: http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21729085.900-clawed-drone-grabs-prey-on-the-fly-just-like-an-eagle.html