TU Delft develops shape-shifting drone modeled on flying squirrels
Researchers at Delft University of Technology have developed two biologically inspired drone systems: a shape-shifting aircraft modeled on flying squirrels and gliding possums and a navigation system based on honeybee behavior. The projects, the SquirrelDrone and Bee-Nav, highlight advances in maneuverability, the university reports.
The SquirrelDrone is based on research into flying squirrels, animals that steer during gliding by using their entire body rather than fixed wings. Unlike conventional fixed-wing aircraft or standard drones, the design allows continuous in-flight shape change. Movement is achieved through coordinated motion of the front and hind limbs, spine, tail, and a flexible membrane resembling the animals’ patagium.
According to researchers, these adaptations improve agility, maneuverability, and flight stability. Results from wind tunnel experiments and test flights show that different body movements contribute in distinct ways to performance, as reported in the journal Nature Communications.
The design process proved unusually complex. Salua Hamaza, a researcher involved in the project, said, “Gliding mammals steer their flight in a different way. They use their entire body as one integrated aerodynamic system.”
The team built four prototypes of the SquirrelDrone. Because the vehicle constantly changes shape in flight, standard testing methods for fixed-wing aircraft were not suitable. Promovendus Liming Zheng said, “We could not evaluate it like a conventional aircraft with fixed wings.”
The SquirrelDrone builds on earlier bio-inspired work at the university. Last month, researchers presented Bee-Nav, a navigation system inspired by honeybees that reduces reliance on detailed digital maps. Many autonomous drones use extensive mapping systems that require significant computing power and memory. Honeybees, researchers note, can travel long distances and still return efficiently to their nest.
“We were fascinated by the fact that honeybees can fly far from home through winding routes, yet still return almost directly,” said Guido de Croon, professor of bio-inspired artificial intelligence for drones at Delft University of Technology.
Biologists attribute this ability to odometry, a mechanism in which movement is tracked through internal measurement of distance and direction based on visual cues along the route. Bee-Nav allows drones to perform a short learning flight around their home base before navigating autonomously with a compact onboard system.
