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Robot birds might be the key to uncovering critical research to strengthen the response and use of small unmanned aerial vehicles.
New research from RMIT University and the University of Bristol has explored how understanding bird adaptation to rough, turbulent air conditions may improve the application of sUAVs in human operations.
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Researchers say that using these techniques and strategies are valuable in understanding how endurance in nature can be translated to endurance in technology.
“They constantly adjust their wings and tails to stay balanced, while the natural flexibility of their feathers and joints helps absorb sudden changes in airflow,” said RMIT researcher, Matt Penn.
“They can also sense disruptions very quickly, which allows them to respond almost instantly and maintain control.”
Currently, sUAVs that are used in search and rescue, agricultural, and photography efforts face major challenges and setbacks when there is turbulence, causing them to be grounded and thus pause these efforts.
As a part of their research, the universities created a robotic replica of the nankeen kestrel bird to explore how birds handle turbulence and rough air conditions.
“By creating a robot replica, we were able to measure how specific movements were contributing to steadiness in flight,” said Dr Mario Martinez Groves-Raines.
“We uncovered several unique techniques behind the kestrel’s impressive stability.
“Many of these techniques have the potential to improve manoeuvrability of small aircraft, which encounter similar challenges to kestrels.”
Researchers hope that their findings can be applied to next generation aircraft design processes to limit disruptions that sUAVs face when turbulence interferes with their operations.
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