Pocket-sized, foldable drone launched by American students makes its debut on video
In the world of drone technology, two groundbreaking innovations have caught the attention of the industry. Festo, a German automation technology company, and a team at Texas A&M University's Advanced Vertical Flight Laboratory (AVFL) have developed compact micro air vehicles (MAVs) that offer unprecedented versatility and ease of use.
Festo's MAV, weighing just 112 grams, is a marvel of engineering. Its design is so compact that it can fit comfortably into a pocket or bag, yet it boasts a six degrees of freedom (6DOF) model that simulates its behaviour in 3D space, accounting for forces such as lift, drag, and torque. This allows the MAV to maintain a stable hover, even when spinning at extreme speeds of up to 2,500 degrees per second during launch.
The MAV's foldable propeller arms reduce its footprint when folded and provide enough lift for stable hovering when extended. Its sophisticated feedback controller enables it to recover from rapid spins and orient itself correctly, a feat that is particularly impressive given its size.
Meanwhile, the Texas A&M team, including undergraduates Hunter Denton and Farid Saemi, aimed to balance size, weight, and performance in their MAV's design. The MAV, which can fold down to the size of a smartphone, can unfold in mid-air to stabilise itself. It weighs less than a can of soda and can extend its arms automatically, lock into place, and steady itself after being thrown.
The Texas A&M MAV has been tested in multiple flight tests where it was launched in different ways, and its sensors and algorithms read its orientation and adjusted the propellers to settle it into a smooth hover. This easy handling allows even casual users to operate it without technical training.
Civilian applications for these MAVs include aerial photography, building inspections, and exploring hard-to-reach spots such as rooftops and tall structures. In emergency response, first responders could carry several MAVs and launch them into disaster zones to assess damage or locate survivors in areas too dangerous to enter. The military could also adopt the MAV for reconnaissance missions due to its portability and rugged design.
Both Festo and the Texas A&M team refined their designs by comparing the models with actual performance, improving their ability to handle unpredictable launches. The real-world flight data captured using motion tracking systems ensured the accuracy of the models.
These MAVs represent a significant leap forward in drone technology, offering a small form factor, quick deployment, and the ability to stabilise in a variety of conditions. Their versatility and ease of use make them valuable in urgent situations, such as emergency response, and open up a world of possibilities for their civilian and military applications.
