One-tenth the energy: Hopcopter drone hops instead of flying all the time
Researchers from Hong Kong and Toronto added a flexible foot to a one-legged drone that hops between spots and flies when needed.
A small drone hops like a bird instead of flying all the time, which saves energy. It is still a research test.
Hype check
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Why it matters
Hopping saves energy, so drones may work longer on search and inspection jobs.
Skip: nothing changes for you.
The details
- The machine has four rotors and one spring-loaded leg.
- Its makers say it covers long distances on one-tenth the energy of a same-size drone.
- The new flexible foot cut performance variation across terrains by 84%.
- The first version struggled on sand, ice and slopes.
- The commercial Hop-1 is only a rendering and is not for sale.
Receipts
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