New Research - Winged Robot that Lands Like a Bird!

New research in robotics by the university of Seville in Spain have led to the development of a winged robot that can fly and land on a perch autonomously.
By using a claw-like mechanism, researchers at EPFL and the University of Seville developed a method to land a flapping-wing robot autonomously on a horizontal perch.

Birds landing on branches may look easy, but in fact, the act of perching involves a delicate balance of timing, high-impact forces, speed, and precision that is extremely delicate. Up until now, no flapping-wing robot (ornithopter) has been able to master such a complex move.

A large number of factors that nature already has so perfectly balanced had to be managed when landing an ornithopter on a perch without any external commands. In order to maintain flight, the ornithopter had to be able to slow down significantly as it perched. It was essential that the claw grip the perch and support the robot's weight, without being so heavy that it couldn't be lifted. Zufferey explains that the single claw made it easier for the robot to perceive its environment and the perch in front of it based on its own speed, trajectory, and position.

All this was achieved by equipping the ornithopter with a fully on-board computer and navigation system, as well as an external motion-capture system to help it determine its position. As the ornithopter tried to hone in on and grasp the perch, its leg-claws were finely calibrated to compensate for oscillations in flight. Upon impact, the claw absorbs the robot's forward momentum, closes quickly to support its weight, and remains on the perch without exerting any energy.

[rzufferey]

First author of the research here. Fantastic explanations and video! Thank you :)

[eslamelsofany]

you are very productive these days mr jason .cheers

[ArtisanTony]

7:07 The slider is on the threaded rod which actuates the claw. It's like a little servo system. Pretty cool It looks like they replaced the spring with a rubber type band which seems like it would also absorb some force and grip better.

[reginaldmcnab]

Imagine the things that will be possible in the next 50 years!

[tresajessygeorge]

THANK YOU... SIR...!!!
Interesting...!!!

[compresswealthdivideeconom]

I think the talon should be more below the body. It need not be symmetric either.

[ArtisanTony]

I wonder if it can land without a perch? A controlled crash :)

[johnhodgson]

I thought it was a dragonfly at first.

[DesertVox]

Imagine people actually believing that birds having such delicate and complex mechanisms for coordinating aerodynamic flight and vision and perching and judging distances for landing accurately.. all that and more features.. all of that 'evolved' without a Creator. Just randomly 'evolving'..