Aerial robotic with ‘elephant trunk’ developed for advanced mid-air manipulation duties

Professor Peng Lu and his staff from the Division of Mechanical Engineering of School of Engineering on the College of Hong Kong (HKU), have achieved a milestone in aerial manipulation expertise. Their modern Aerial Elephant Trunk (AET), a novel aerial continuum manipulator, has demonstrated unparalleled functionality in performing advanced aerial manipulation duties, marking a major leap ahead for the event of the low-altitude economic system.

Professor Lu and his lab members have lengthy centered on advancing aerial continuum manipulators to boost the efficiency of aerial manipulation. Typical aerial manipulators face inherent limitations in balancing the payload capability of UAVs with the dexterity of robotic arms.

The analysis staff’s AET, impressed by the pliability of an elephant trunk, successfully addresses these challenges. The analysis is revealed within the journal Nature Communications.

“By designing a extremely compact aerial continuum arm, we are able to carry out varied aerial manipulation duties in advanced environments. AET is extraordinarily dexterous in comparison with present aerial manipulators, as its physique can develop into any form. It may well grasp objects of assorted configurations and dimensions utilizing its physique, a functionality that’s nearly not possible for typical aerial manipulators, which may solely grasp objects utilizing grippers,” stated Professor Lu.

AET excels in cluttered and constrained environments, navigating by way of pipelines of assorted shapes and overcoming obstacles the place conventional aerial manipulators battle. With its functionality to understand a variety of objects and function in numerous environments, AET considerably expands the applying for aerial manipulation.

It’s able to finishing up greedy, transporting, and upkeep duties in difficult aerial environments, comparable to clearing particles at catastrophe websites, eradicating particles from high-voltage energy strains, and sustaining cross-sea bridges. The developments within the design and management of AET will set up a strong basis for dexterous aerial manipulation, ushering in new industries and modes for the event of the low-altitude economic system.