RAVEN (Robotic Avian-inspired Vehicle for multiple ENvironments) is a drone that can walk, hop, and jump into flight with the aid of birdlike legs. (Image: Alain Herzog CC BY SA)

WHO

EPFL researchers have built RAVEN, a drone that can walk, hop, and jump into flight with the aid of birdlike legs.

WHAT

“As the crow flies” is a common idiom referring to the shortest distance between two points, but the Laboratory of Intelligent Systems, led by Dario Floreano, in EPFL’s School of Engineering, has taken the phrase literally with RAVEN (Robotic Avian-inspired Vehicle for multiple ENvironments). Designed based on perching birds like ravens and crows that frequently switch between air and land, the multifunctional robotic legs allow it to take off autonomously in environments previously inaccessible to winged drones. RAVEN’s design is aimed at maximizing gait diversity while minimizing mass. The team designed a set of custom, multifunctional avian legs for a fixed-wing drone. They used a combination of mathematical models, computer simulations, and experimental iterations to achieve an optimal balance between leg complexity and overall drone weight. The resulting leg keeps heavier components close to the body, while a combination of springs and motors mimics powerful avian tendons and muscles. Lightweight, avian-inspired feet composed of two articulated structures leverage a passive elastic joint that supports diverse postures for walking, hopping, and jumping. RAVEN’s unique design allows it to walk, traverse gaps in terrain, and even jump up onto an elevated surface 26 centimeters high.

RAVEN is designed based on perching birds like ravens and crows that frequently switch between air and land. (Image: Alain Herzog CC BY SA)

WHERE

Swiss Federal Technology Institute of Lausanne, Switzerland

WHY

A lightweight design for winged drones that can move on rough terrain and take off from restricted locations without human intervention can greatly expand the range of potential environments accessible to unmanned aerial vehicles.

WHEN

These capabilities enable the use of such drones in inspection, disaster mitigation, and delivery in confined areas. The EPFL team is already working on improved design and control of the legs to facilitate landing in a variety of environments.

For more information, contact Celia Luterbacher at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ; +41 216-931-111.

Topics:
Automation Robotics Unmanned Air Vehicles/Systems (UAV/UAS)

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