BEIJING: Chinese experts have developed a drone that floats in the water and flies in the air with a small rubber suction cup that allows it to cling tightly to any place, including large animals.
In this way, water drones can be mounted on wheels to monitor them or quietly connect to enemy submarines. The drone’s suction pump is made from a fish called Remora. This fish clings to large animals and eats insects or parasites that bother them and in return enjoys free riding. This process is called “symbiosis” in factory nature.
The Li-van robot from Bei Hang University in Beijing can not only swim in the water but also cling to large sea creatures, but it can also cling to a flying object while flying in the air. For this, the Remora fish cascade system has been printed on a 3D printer. When all the parts of this rubber pad are found, they act like suction cups full of moisture and have the ability to attach to any object.
But to dive into the water, experts have enlisted the help of the Kingfisher, a bird that especially stretches its wings to the depths and catches prey. In the same way, the drone’s wings also shrink and close and thus it moves rapidly in the water.
The drone’s wings then open to allow water to enter the air, and it rotates so fast that it successfully leaves the water, rises into the air, and continues to fly.
In the laboratory, a 40 cm long robot successfully demonstrated how to go into the water and stick to a high-speed robot floating inside. After that, he separated but after getting connected to the robot he got only 5% energy. This robot can fly repeatedly in the air and has the full power to go underwater again and again.
After further improvement, it has been tested to a depth of two and a half meters. After that, his connection with the external controller was gradually weakened. Now experts are working on its improved communication system and it is expected that it will be able to work in more depth.
Multi-purpose drones can be used for wildlife surveys, scientific research, marine animal survival, reconnaissance and other purposes. It also has a GPS system installed inside.
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