Swiss Federal Institute of Technology’s Gimball drone (via EPFL)
Drones, or more formally UAVs, are usually controlled either by a remote operator skilled at flying them or are flown autonomously using software to program a series of waypoints. Of course, those methods only work if there are little to no obstacles in the UAV’s path. However a new type of drone has been designed that takes advantage of those obstacles and can even fly in cluttered environments. The drone, known as Gimball, was designed and developed by engineers from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne and uses a hexagonal rotating shroud to protect itself while flying. This enables the drone to actually ‘bounce’ off of obstacles and continue on its flight. The drone is equipped with a pair of counter-rotating propellers for flight along with adjustable fins for changing direction. It can be operated by both humans and autonomously using a magnetic compass and altitude sensor to guide the drone to its destination. To keep the drone upright, the engineers outfitted the UAV with an ingenious gyroscope-like setup made out of two carbon-fiber rings, which are connected to the hexagonal shroud.
The whole system is lightweight, weighing in at just under a pound, which allows it to remain aloft. While the design is very efficient, it does have its drawbacks, including the open-framed protective shroud, which can get snagged on sticks, branches or other protuberances such as exposed rebar in disaster areas. The current design doesn’t have any positioning sensors or GPS, so it is not that precise when moving to waypoints autonomously. It can also absorb impacts at roughly 3Mph, however anything over that speed will destroy the drone. The engineers are looking to rectify some of those issues, such as navigation by outfitting the drone with an object detection system to avoid becoming caught on debris. The team foresees the drone being used in areas with heavy smoke that would be difficult to navigate using other UAVs or ROVs. If all else fails, it could double as a ‘smart’ soccer ball able to out-maneuver the opposing team.
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