Nature-Inspired Breakthrough: Flying Squirrel-Inspired Drone Shows Off Rapid Maneuvering Skills
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By Insider Lens, May 5, 2025 – Buenos Aires
South Korean researchers unveil a bio-inspired drone with foldable silicone wings for superior maneuverability.
Credit: Dohyeon Lee, Jun-Gill Kang, and Soohee Han. A team of researchers from the Pohang University of Science and Technology and the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) in South Korea has developed an innovative drone that mimics the wing dynamics of flying squirrels, demonstrating a new level of aerial maneuverability through foldable wing membranes. The project is led by Dohyeon Lee, Jun-Gill Kang, and Soohee Han, who are part of the AI Autonomy Technology Center at ADD and POSTECH. Their combined expertise in robotics and aerodynamics drives the innovation behind this unique aerial system.
Research Insight
Inspired by how flying squirrels decelerate and steer mid-air using loose skin flaps, the team equipped their drone with deployable silicone wings. These wings can be extended or retracted during flight, enabling dynamic control over aerodynamic drag. Using a neural network, the system accurately predicts drag forces and executes Thrust-Wing Coordination Control (TWCC), a novel framework that synchronizes wing deployment with motor thrust.
Scientific Breakthrough
Unlike standard drones, this bioinspired quadrotor: • Rapidly decelerates during emergency stops • Executes sharp directional changes in cluttered environments • Maintains a conventional quadrotor form factor, allowing for real-world integration • Features real-time AI decision-making to manage wing deployment and motor response
Impact & Future Potential
This flying squirrel drone is a milestone in bioinspired flight design, offering practical solutions for obstacle avoidance, urban navigation, autonomous search and rescue, and military operations. Its ability to intelligently balance thrust and drag opens new avenues for UAV development. Stay with us at info@insiderlens.org or contact@insiderlens.org for updates as this research drives forward real-world applications in other bioinspired or robotics-based research breakthroughs.
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