Westlake University's 'FlyingToolbox' Enables Precise Mid-Air Tool Exchange Between Drones
A team from Westlake University has published a study in Nature, with the DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-09575-x, detailing the development of the 'FlyingToolbox' system. This innovative system enables precise tool exchange between drones in flight, a feat previously hindered by 'downwash' interference.
Flying manipulator robots have proven their worth in hard-to-reach or hazardous locations. However, cooperative flight and tool exchange between drones have posed significant challenges. The FlyingToolbox system addresses this issue by employing QR code tracking, neural network-based downwash compensation, and electromagnet docking. In tests, the system demonstrated remarkable accuracy, improving upon previous systems by a considerable margin, with tool-switching tasks achieved with sub-centimeter docking accuracy (0.80 ± 0.33 cm) even in strong downwash conditions.
The team, led by a Chinese research group, believes the FlyingToolbox could inspire the development of more complex cooperative aerial manipulation systems. While the system has shown promising results in a controlled lab environment, outdoor functionality remains to be proven.
The FlyingToolbox system, developed by a team from Westlake University, represents a significant advancement in cooperative aerial manipulation. With its impressive accuracy and ability to overcome downwash interference, the system could pave the way for more complex cooperative tasks between drones in the future.
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