Jumping Takeoff of a Flapping Flying Robot

Robots mimicking the flight of insects and birds (i.e., “flapping flying robots”) have considerably attracted attention owing to their numerous advantages such as energy-saving, reduced noise levels, and safety during a crash. However, the takeoff method leveraged by existing flapping flying robots is limited, as ground-level takeoff may damage the robot. This study aims to develop a remotely controlled flapping flying robot that can fly independently. The developed robot consists of a flapping flying robot that can obtain a thrust of approximately its own weight by flapping its wings and a Snap Motor as a lightweight jumping mechanism. The findings demonstrate that a jumping takeoff effectively avoids wing-ground collision while contributing to stable posture during takeoff.