ETH Zurich Unveils FlexiQuad Drone Capable of Surviving Collisions
- Published
- Source
- Dronelife.com
Researchers at ETH Zurich have introduced the FlexiQuad, a flexible drone designed to withstand collisions while maintaining flight. This innovative design features a ring-shaped frame that bends upon impact, allowing the drone to absorb collision forces and continue operating in challenging environments.
The significance of the FlexiQuad lies in its unique approach to drone safety, which prioritizes physical resilience over traditional sensor-based obstacle avoidance. With the ability to endure collisions at speeds up to 25 kilometers per hour (16 mph) and achieve normal flight speeds of 80 kilometers per hour (50 mph), the drone demonstrates agility comparable to rigid models.
FlexiQuad's development, led by Luca Girardi and Stefano Mintchev, has resulted in a patent application and a nomination for ETH Zurich's 2026 Spark Award. The flexible design opens up new possibilities for drone applications in confined spaces, such as inspecting ship ballast tanks and searching collapsed buildings. No further timeline was disclosed at the time of publication.
Original report
ETH Zurich Develops Flexible Drone That Can Survive Collisions
Dronelife.com · Miriam McNabbThis briefing is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting and is provided for industry information and news discovery. The original report and source publication are credited and linked where applicable. RobotToday does not claim ownership of third-party source material.
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