Scientists at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) have developed RAVEN, a robotic bird capable of walking, jumping, and flying autonomously without the need for runways. This advancement, published in the journal 'Nature', aims to improve the functionality of drones in challenging terrains, such as disaster relief operations in remote areas.
RAVEN, which stands for Robotic Avian Vehicle for Multiple Environments, mimics the movements of birds, particularly their takeoff techniques. Unlike conventional drones that require long, clear runways, RAVEN can take off by jumping, thereby conserving energy and achieving higher initial flight speeds.
Won Dong Shin, a PhD student involved in the project, noted that observing birds inspired the design, as they can launch from virtually any location. This feature could significantly enhance the efficiency of drones in search and rescue missions and monitoring difficult terrains.
Despite being in early development, the robotic bird shows promise in integrating multiple modes of locomotion while maintaining a lightweight design. The researchers are now focusing on improving RAVEN's landing capabilities and exploring its applications in areas such as medical robotics and prosthetics, where variable stiffness is essential.
EPFL researchers aim to further refine the design to create drones that are agile and energy-efficient, paving the way for advanced applications in disaster response and remote inspections.