The robotics keep taking great steps. This time, a group of researchers from the Federal Polytechnic School of Lausanne (EPFL), in Switzerland, managed to create a robot which imitates the movements of a bird.
It is called RAVEN, due to its English name: Robotic Avian-inspired Vehicle for multiple ENvironments. Furthermore, the meaning of the word is crow, since it is the bird from which it is inspired.
A movement to save energy has been understood from the crow since they walk, jump and are capable of launching themselves into flight with force using their legs. However, a report from Infobae points out that the mechanical legs are simpler: instead of three joints, it has two.
What improves the robot’s work are its motors and springs that help it release elastic energy. This allows it to propel itself about 50 centimeters and gain speed.
But it’s not just made for flying. The robot can walk one meter in just four seconds, jump 12-centimeter gaps, and can even overcome obstacles.
The robot only weighs 650 grams and its design takes advantage of aerodynamics. It has a size of one meter and a body length of 50 centimeters, it has a fixed wing and a propeller for air propulsion.
The work is successful because it can reach an initial speed of 2.2 m/s when taking off and maintain a controlled flight. This gives it an advantage over fixed wing drones. The results have been presented in the scientific journal Nature.