Monday, July 15, 2024 Researchers at City University of Hong Kong , led by Professor Pakpong Chirarattananon from the Departments of Biomedical Engineering (BME) and Mechanical Engineering, have developed an innovative robot named “Hopcopter.” This hybrid robot combines the capabilities of a quadcopter with a spring-loaded telescopic leg, allowing it to seamlessly transition between aerial flight and terrestrial hopping. This development represents a significant advancement in robotic mobility, potentially revolutionizing various industries, including the travel technology sector.
The research, titled “An agile monopedal hopping quadcopter with synergistic hybrid locomotion,” was published in the esteemed journal Science Robotics. This breakthrough in robotic design was achieved by integrating a passive elastic leg with a nano quadcopter, creating a robot capable of efficient energy storage and release without direct leg actuation. This design enables the Hopcopter to alternate between flying and hopping, significantly extending its operational time and versatility.
Flying robots, such as quadcopters, have become increasingly popular for recreational purposes, surveillance, and research. However, they face limitations in terms of flight duration and load capacity. In nature, animals like parrotlets and sparrows efficiently combine jumping and flying to navigate their environments.
Replicating this natural efficiency in robots has been challenging due to the complexity.