Scientists create flying dragon robot that can change shapes

Since robots are becoming common, scientists have created a new kind of robot that can fly, similar to a dragon.

Scientists from the University of Tokyo have manufactured what they call dragon robot. Named DRAGON, the scientists synced four thrusters together to create a twisting, shape-changing, floating aircraft that can squeeze in through tiny spaces.

DRAGON got its named from ‘Dual-rotor embedded multilink Robot with the Ability of multi-deGree-of-freedom aerial transformatiON’. The robot is powered by ducted fans and can fly and transform itself into various shapes during the flight including a straight line, square (box shape), snake (spiral), ‘L-shape’, zig-zag or any other shape its design allows, wrote Slash Gear.

Video Courtesy: IEEE Spectrum

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With series of linked modules watch and a pair of ducted fan thrusters, DRAGON can roll and pitch itself in any direction. Every module is connected to the next with a hinged joint and the entire robot runs on a battery pack and Intel Euclid tech.

Drones these days face numerous problems and this robot dragon is here to solve those. DRAGON can change its shape and can be small enough to fly straight through tight spaces, which cannot be done by drones. Also, it can transform into shapes capable of carrying cargo too.

The aircraft at present has only three minutes of flight-time and has four modules. The team claims that for the future, they are working towards creating the DRAGON up to 12 modules. This would give the robot capability to make use of its two ends like grippers and pick up objects, as per IEEE Spectrum.