Drone Tech: Students Create Soil-Sampling Robot

A team of Russian students has engineered a sophisticated manipulator designed for deployment on multirotor drones. This device, constructed using 3D printing with PETG plastic, is capable of collecting substantial soil samples, weighing up to 0.7 kg. Equipped with a drill, actuators, and sensors, its operations are precisely managed by an integrated microcontroller.

The manipulator can effectively extract samples from a minimum depth of 25 cm. Once the drone reaches its designated sampling point, the microcontroller initiates the sampling process. The device's power source allows for approximately 10 operations on a single charge. Notably, this innovative solution distinguishes itself from existing technologies by achieving deeper drilling penetration and lifting considerably larger volumes of soil samples.