Scientists and roboticists have long been inspired by nature when developing new features for devices. In creating a method to allow mini drones to navigate independently without requiring expensive or large, heavy components, researchers from the University of Toronto drew inspiration from bats and other animals that rely on echolocation. According to PopSci, the team used only the built-in audio equipment of an interactive puck robot and constructed a sound-based system with inexpensive microphones and speakers for a tiny flying drone that fits in the palm of a hand.
The system operates similarly to bat echolocation. It was designed to emit sounds at different frequencies, which the drone’s microphone captures when they bounce off walls. The next step involves analyzing the sound waves and creating a map of the room’s dimensions using an algorithm developed by the team.
In a paper published in IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters, the researchers stated that existing “active echolocation algorithms are underdeveloped and often depend on hardware requirements that are unavailable to small robots.” They also added that their “method is model-based, operates in real-time, and doesn’t require prior calibration or training.” Their solution could give small machines the ability to embark on search-and-rescue missions or explore previously unreachable places where larger robots cannot go. And since the system only requires built-in audio equipment or inexpensive additional components, it has a wide range of potential applications.
During testing, the researchers found that their technology is still not as accurate as systems used in larger, more expensive equipment, such as GPS sensors or cameras. However, they hope to improve its accuracy in future versions and eliminate the need for the system to generate its own sounds. Instead, they aim to have the system perform echolocation using sounds made by the drone itself, like the noise from rotating propellers.