EPFL researchers have unveiled a groundbreaking drone, RAVEN (Robotic Avian-inspired Vehicle for multiple ENvironments), which can walk, hop, and jump to take flight. With birdlike legs inspired by ravens and crows, the drone is designed to access challenging environments previously unreachable by traditional winged drones.
The multifunctional robotic legs mimic avian biomechanics, featuring lightweight structures, passive elastic joints, and a spring-motor system that replicates the efficiency of bird tendons. The drone weighs just 0.62kg and can perform diverse movements such as walking across uneven terrain, hopping, and jumping onto elevated surfaces up to 26 centimeters high. Jumping into flight has proven to be the most energy-efficient mode of take-off.
Published in Nature, the research highlights the energetic efficiency of jumping for take-off in both birds and drones, providing insight into how avian adaptations can revolutionize drone design. These features allow RAVEN to perform tasks such as disaster relief, inspections, and deliveries in confined or rough terrains without requiring human intervention.
EPFL’s team, led by Dario Floreano, collaborated with the BioRobotics Lab at EPFL and Neuromechanics Lab at UC Irvine to incorporate bird biomechanics into robotic systems. The next steps include enhancing the legs for smoother landings and adapting the technology to diverse environments, paving the way for agile and energy-efficient drones that combine walking, jumping, and flight seamlessly.
