Nature-inspired morphing wings that recover from impacts set for UAV lift-off

By examining the wings of birds and bats, the researchers have created a mechanism that could allow future flying robots to easily squeeze between obstacles and fully recover after accidental impacts. The results have been published today, 26 March, in Bioinspiration and Biomimetics.

Whilst animals have evolved to manoeuvre through complex environments, researchers have yet to design mechanisms that make it easy for man-made robots.

Birds can morph their wings until they are tucked close into their body, allowing them to pass through gaps.     

In the Stanford study, researchers are said to have created one of the first mechanisms in which the morphing of the wing was completely passive, requiring no actuation to fold or unfold, making the wing lighter and more reliable.

The robotic wing was modelled on bat and bird wings and was made using carbon fibre and Mylar film. Similar to a bird wing, each of the two robotic wings had a wrist joint, which were custom built with a 3D printer.