Flexible Drone Arm Inspired by Elephant Trunk Could Revolutionise Disaster Response and Infrastructure Repair

A new drone-mounted robotic arm developed by researchers at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) mimics the flexibility of an elephant’s trunk, enabling drones to perform complex tasks in tight and unpredictable environments.

Credit: The University of Hong Kong

The Aerial Elephant Trunk (AET), created by Professor Peng Lu and his team from HKU’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, is a soft, shape-shifting arm that allows drones to grasp, twist, and manoeuvre with unprecedented dexterity.

Unlike traditional aerial robots that rely on rigid arms and mechanical grippers, the AET uses a flexible structure to wrap around objects of various sizes and shapes. This design allows drones to operate in confined spaces and handle tasks that require both reach and finesse.

“It can grasp objects of various sizes and shapes using its body, a capability that is almost impossible for conventional aerial manipulators,” said Lu.

Credit: Arc Lab

The AET is particularly effective in environments where conventional drones fail. It can navigate narrow pipelines, snake around obstacles, and perform detailed manipulation in confined areas.

This makes it ideal for disaster response scenarios, such as removing debris from collapsed buildings or damaged power lines. It also has potential applications in inspecting and repairing infrastructure like high-voltage lines and cross-sea bridges.

As countries expand drone use in industrial and emergency sectors, technologies like the AET could accelerate the growth of the low-altitude economy, which includes aerial logistics, infrastructure monitoring, and remote-area servicing.

Lu and his team aim to further enhance the performance and reliability of aerial manipulation systems. The AET’s success marks a significant step toward more advanced and versatile drone capabilities.

The study is published in the journal Nature Communications.

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• HKU researchers developed a flexible drone arm inspired by an elephant’s trunk

• The Aerial Elephant Trunk allows drones to grasp and manipulate objects without grippers

• It performs well in confined, unpredictable environments

Source: INTERESTING ENGINEERING