The ‘morphorobot’ was ‘inspired by nature’, say its developers
Specialized robots that can both fly and drive typically touch down on land before attempting to transform and drive away. But when the landing terrain is rough, these robots sometimes get stuck and are unable to continue operating.
Now a team of Caltech engineers has developed a real-life Transformer that has the “brains” to morph in midair, allowing the dronelike robot to smoothly roll away and begin its ground operations without pause.
The increased agility and robustness of such robots could be particularly useful for commercial delivery systems and robotic explorers. [Read more…] about Caltech unveils flying robot that transforms into road vehicle in mid-air