DRAGON | A Japanese dragon drone moves independently through the air, resembling the sinuous motion of a flying snake

 The JSK Lab at the University of Tokyo has introduced a cutting-edge drone known as the "dragon drone," which is composed of multiple small drones capable of dynamic transformations. According to reports, this drone not only has the ability to alter its shape into various forms like squares or curved lines but also possesses the capability to autonomously determine the most suitable shape based on the space it needs to navigate.

The acronym "DRAGON" stands for "Dual-rotor embedded multilink Robot with the Ability of multi-deGree-of-freedom aerial transformatiON." Inspired by traditional dragon kites, the design features a tail composed of interconnected smaller kites. Watch on YouTube

Each of the small drones is equipped with a pair of ducted fans that can be adjusted to direct thrust in almost any direction. Powered by an Intel Euclid dev kit and supported by a spine-mounted battery pack offering three minutes of flight time, the DRAGON drone's modules can rearrange themselves, as demonstrated in the video where it transforms into a square and unravels to ascend through a narrow opening.

While the immediate purpose of this drone design is apparent in its ability to navigate confined spaces, the development team envisions a broader range of applications. In the future, the DRAGON drone, potentially featuring up to 12 modules, could function akin to a flying arm. This envisaged functionality includes interacting with, moving, and manipulating objects. Additionally, the drone might be capable of grasping items using the two end drones like a pincer.

Presently, the specific use cases for this type of drone remain somewhat ambiguous, yet the technological innovation is undeniably promising. Potential applications could emerge in industrial settings, such as navigating ducts, or in scenarios involving search and rescue operations.

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