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ETH Zurich develops FlexiQuad flexible quadrotor that resists collisions and reaches a top speed of 80 km/h

An ETH Zurich team has developed FlexiQuad, a ring-shaped flexible-frame quadrotor with no central body; on impact the frame deforms to absorb energy and the drone can keep flying. It reaches a top flight speed of 80 km/h, with collision tests at about 25 km/h; the frame material costs less than 15 Swiss francs, and it has been used to grasp and carry soft first-aid kits and payloads heavier than its own weight. The team also used reinforcement learning to let it stabilize its attitude after a collision before resuming autonomous flight, but reliable perception and autonomous navigation remain prerequisites for leaving the lab.

Part of the event: ETH Zurich develops FlexiQuad drone with flexible ring frame

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