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Tiny Drone Uses Touch to Navigate Darkness
24 Sep
Summary
- Artificial whiskers enable drones to map spaces without cameras or GPS.
- Pressure sensors at whisker bases detect surface contact instantly.
- The onboard software uses only 34 kilobytes of memory for navigation.
Researchers at Delft University of Technology have unveiled a novel drone design that navigates using artificial whiskers, offering a unique tactile sensing capability. This innovation allows the miniature aircraft, weighing under 100 grams, to map environments without relying on cameras or GPS signals.
The drone is equipped with two slender filaments that act as artificial whiskers, connected to pressure sensors. When these whiskers make contact with surfaces, the sensors detect pressure changes, providing crucial data for estimating the drone's position relative to its surroundings.
This tactile navigation system is particularly valuable in challenging conditions, such as smoke, dust, or darkness, where traditional sensors fail. Potential applications include rescue operations in collapsed buildings, where drones can explore tight, unstable spaces ahead of human responders.
A key advancement is the drone's incredibly efficient onboard software, which requires only 34 kilobytes of memory. This lightweight processing program can distinguish between airflow turbulence and actual surface contact in real-time, maintaining high precision. The technology aims to prove that advanced sensing does not necessitate large size or high computational power.
