Tiny Microdrones Propelled by Light-Driven Nanomotors
A hand-held laser pointer produces no noticeable recoil forces when it is “fired” — even though it emits a directed stream of light particles. The…
Drones News
Satellites and Drones Are Being Used To Study Glacial Physics and Predict Sea Level Rise
Brent Minchew leads two proposals to better understand glacial physics and predict sea-level rise as part of MIT’s Climate Grand Challenges competition. When we think…
Giving Bug-Like Bots a Boost: New Artificial Muscles Improve the Performance of Flying Microrobots
A new fabrication technique produces low-voltage, power-dense artificial muscles that improve the performance of flying microrobots. When it comes to robots, bigger isn’t always better….
New Cyber Protections Against Stealthy “Logic Bombs” Targeting 3D Printed Drones, Prostheses and Medical Devices
Cyber attackers could target 3D printed objects in health care, aerospace, and other fields. Cybersecurity researchers at Rutgers University-New Brunswick and the Georgia Institute of…
New Algorithm Trains Drones To Fly Around Obstacles at High Speeds
New algorithm could enable fast, nimble drones for time-critical operations such as search and rescue. If you follow autonomous drone racing, you likely remember the…
Secrets of Highly Efficient Swimming Uncovered for Design of Next-Generation Underwater Drones
University of Virginia School of Engineering researchers uncover the secrets of highly efficient swimming at varying speeds. A robotic fish tail and an elegant math…
New Algorithm Flies Drones Faster Than World-Class Human Racing Pilots
To be useful, drones need to be quick. Because of their limited battery life, they must complete whatever task they have — searching for survivors…
New MIT Algorithm Helps Robots Collaborate to Get the Job Done
Algorithm enables robot teams to complete missions, such as mapping or search-and-rescue, with minimal wasted effort. Sometimes, one robot isn’t enough. Consider a search-and-rescue mission…
First People in the US to Experience Drone Delivery Give It a Seal of Approval
The week of Thanksgiving last year, a postcard arrived in mailboxes in Christiansburg. A link to a survey was on the back. On the front,…
Insect-Inspired Flying Robots: Researchers Introduce a New Generation of Tiny, Agile Drones
The technology could boost aerial robots’ repertoire, allowing them to operate in cramped spaces and withstand collisions. If you’ve ever swatted a mosquito away from…
U.S. Army Developed Algorithms Improve Quadrotor Drone Performance
Researchers develop algorithms to enable drones to quickly switch between hover and forward flight. When an aircraft veers upwards too much, the decrease in lift…
ABOVE & Beyond: New Drone Technology Improves Ability to Forecast Volcanic Eruptions
Specially-adapted drones developed by a University College London-led international team have been gathering data from never-before-explored volcanoes that will enable local communities to better forecast…
Raptor-Inspired Drone With Morphing Wing and Tail for Unprecedented Flight Agility
EPFL engineers have developed a drone with a feathered wing and tail that give it unprecedented flight agility. The northern goshawk is a fast, powerful…
Just by Listening to Echoes, A Drone Can Determine the Shape of a Room
Imagine a loudspeaker is placed in a room with a few microphones. When the loudspeaker emits a sound impulse, the microphones receive several delayed responses…
Smarter UAVs Fall Into Formation
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are getting smarter with the help of an international team of researchers. They developed a way for multiple UAVs to fall…
“Dangerous Close Encounters” – Skilled Aircraft Pilots Usually Cannot Spot an Encroaching Drone
Skilled pilots approaching a runway usually can’t see small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) encroaching on their airspace, and they virtually never detect motionless drones, a…
New Low-Power Chip Will Help Miniature Drones Navigate
Researchers at MIT, who last year designed a tiny computer chip tailored to help honeybee-sized drones navigate, have now shrunk their chip design even further,…
MIT Engineers Develop Autonomous “Selfie Drone”
If you’re a rock climber, hiker, runner, dancer, or anyone who likes recording themselves while in motion, a personal drone companion can now do all…
