Hybrid 'FSTAR': Flying and Crawling Quadcopter Robot
The hybrid "FSTAR," or flying sprawl-tuned autonomous robot, is a groundbreaking experimental robot drone that flies like a typical quadcopter, drives on tough terrain, and squeezes into tight spaces – all using the same motors. It was developed by researchers at Ben-Gurion University in Israel. FSTAR is fitted with a sprawling mechanism, wheels, and propellers that allow it to both run and fly using the same motors. It can run on the ground at a speed of 2.6 m/s and fly at 15 m/s. The sprawl adjusts from a flat configuration to 55 degrees, and also adjusts its width to crawl or run on flat surfaces, climb over large obstacles, or squeeze through a tunnel. The robot could be ideal for package delivery and search and rescue applications.