Flying robots can pass tools to each other in the air. This could make jobs safer and faster. Find out more!
Industrial inspection, maintenance, and construction often involve tasks that are risky or hard for humans to reach, such as high structures, chemical plants, or confined spaces. Flying manipulator robots, or drones with robotic arms, are increasingly being used to handle such jobs. They reduce human exposure to danger and bring automation to locations where ground robots cannot operate.
But there is a key limitation: these flying robots cannot easily cooperate midair. In real-world scenarios, they may need to share tools or parts, something that currently requires landing, slowing down operations and reducing efficiency. The main barrier is “downwash,” the strong air turbulence created between drones, which interferes with their flight stability and precise docking.
To solve this, researchers at Westlake University in China have developed FlyingToolbox, a system that enables micro-aerial vehicles (MAVs) to exchange tools while in flight. Instead of landing to swap tools, one drone can hand over instruments to another midair, much like one worker passing tools to another, allowing continuous, efficient work.
The system combines three key innovations: onboard vision using QR code tracking for precise relative positioning, a neural network that predicts and compensates for downwash effects in real time, and an electromagnet-based docking mechanism with elastic tethers that ensure secure tool attachment.
In experiments, FlyingToolbox showed stable midair coordination between two drones, one carrying multiple tools and the other equipped with a robotic arm manipulator. The design and results demonstrate improved stability and coordination, marking a step forward in cooperative aerial manipulation.
This technology could support faster, safer, and more flexible operations in industries such as industrial maintenance, construction, and other applications where humans face hazards or limited access.
