Scientists have developed an autonomous drone that uses cutting-edge technology to quickly deliver parcels such as letters, medicine, first-aid supplies and food weighing up to 500 grammes. The device will never get stuck in traffic, it is programmed to avoid obstacles, and it can reach destinations on steep or uneven terrain, researchers said. Its protective cage and foldable design mean that it can be carried around in a backpack and used in total safety.
The drone, developed by scientists at Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne in Switzerland, is equipped with several innovations that make it particularly safe, autonomous and easy to transport. The unique idea here is that the drone becomes the package that wraps around the cargo before flight, just like a mail package, researchers said. The foldable carbon-fibre cage protects the drone and the cargo in case of a collision or fall.
The recipient can catch the drone mid-flight without being injured by the propellers, which are located within the structure and have a safety system so that they stop when the cage is opened. The origami-inspired design means that the frame can be folded and unfolded in a single movement. It can be flattened in just a few seconds, reducing the drone’s volume by 92 per cent so that it can easily be slipped inside a backpack.
The drone – a multicopter with four propellers – can take off and land vertically, which enhances its accuracy. It can carry a package weighing up to 500 grammes over a distance of two kilometers. The drone contains specially designed self-flying software to programme the delivery. A flight plan is created to ensure it avoids obstacles such as trees and buildings.
The drone can then be tracked in real time on a tablet or smartphone. Once the package has been delivered, the drone makes its way back on its own. The device also has a safety system to prevent it from being hacked. “This project is a work in progress – in addition to strengthening its ability to detect and avoid objects, we are exploring possibilities to increase the drone’s payload capacity and enhance its autonomy,” said Przemyslaw Kornatowski, who developed the drone.
“We tested our human-friendly, drone-delivery system on the EPFL campus, delivering items to people over 150 test flights,” Kornatowski said. The drone will also have a parachute to increase its safety in the event of a breakdown, researchers said.
