Classical aerial robots broadly utilize rigid body structures to create systems that can be precisely controlled during operation. Yet, when compared to their biological flying counterparts, they still struggle in various performance parameters such as mechanical robustness, energy efficiency, multi-functionality, multi-terrain accessibility, agility, and maneuverability. By utilizing their innate active and passive morphological features, biological flyers are able to exploit dynamic and biomechanical effects to achieve better aerodynamic performances and multi-functionality in cluttered environments. Through elucidating the fundamental knowledge in the functionalization of biological flyers, in combination with current multidisciplinary sciences such as material science, biology, chemistry, computer science, and mechanical engineering, the next generation of physical artificial intelligent aerial robots can perform multi-capabilities, transition between multi-terrains, and autonomously operate in real-world conditions.
In recent years, the field of soft aerial robotics has benefitted from the utilization of reconfigurable, flexible, soft, energy-storing, and morphologically adaptive structures. This Research Topic looks to showcase the high-quality work of leading researchers in the fields of bio-inspired, reconfigurable, bio-hybrid, morphing, and soft aerial robots, to create a dialogue of the current state of the art, the technical/conceptual barriers, and the discussion of the challenges and future opportunities for the topic of soft aerial robotics.
In this Research Topic, we aim to highlight the current and future utilization of soft and morphologically adaptive structures in aerial robot related applications. The research topics of interest include but are not limited to:
- Soft, Reconfigurable, Morphable, and Metamorphic Aerial Robots
- Multi-modal mobility across terrestrial, aerial, and aquatic environments in aerial robotics
- Improving maneuverability and flight efficiency of soft aerial flyers
- Adaptive landing and collision in soft aerial robots
- Soft aerial robots for manipulation, perching, and energy management in complicated environments
- Bio-inspired aerial construction and nest
- Bio-hybrid aerial robots
- Biodegradable and environmentally friendly aerial robots
- Self-regenerating and self-healing in aerial robots
- Bio-inspired aerial robots to understand animal behavior
Classical aerial robots broadly utilize rigid body structures to create systems that can be precisely controlled during operation. Yet, when compared to their biological flying counterparts, they still struggle in various performance parameters such as mechanical robustness, energy efficiency, multi-functionality, multi-terrain accessibility, agility, and maneuverability. By utilizing their innate active and passive morphological features, biological flyers are able to exploit dynamic and biomechanical effects to achieve better aerodynamic performances and multi-functionality in cluttered environments. Through elucidating the fundamental knowledge in the functionalization of biological flyers, in combination with current multidisciplinary sciences such as material science, biology, chemistry, computer science, and mechanical engineering, the next generation of physical artificial intelligent aerial robots can perform multi-capabilities, transition between multi-terrains, and autonomously operate in real-world conditions.
In recent years, the field of soft aerial robotics has benefitted from the utilization of reconfigurable, flexible, soft, energy-storing, and morphologically adaptive structures. This Research Topic looks to showcase the high-quality work of leading researchers in the fields of bio-inspired, reconfigurable, bio-hybrid, morphing, and soft aerial robots, to create a dialogue of the current state of the art, the technical/conceptual barriers, and the discussion of the challenges and future opportunities for the topic of soft aerial robotics.
In this Research Topic, we aim to highlight the current and future utilization of soft and morphologically adaptive structures in aerial robot related applications. The research topics of interest include but are not limited to:
- Soft, Reconfigurable, Morphable, and Metamorphic Aerial Robots
- Multi-modal mobility across terrestrial, aerial, and aquatic environments in aerial robotics
- Improving maneuverability and flight efficiency of soft aerial flyers
- Adaptive landing and collision in soft aerial robots
- Soft aerial robots for manipulation, perching, and energy management in complicated environments
- Bio-inspired aerial construction and nest
- Bio-hybrid aerial robots
- Biodegradable and environmentally friendly aerial robots
- Self-regenerating and self-healing in aerial robots
- Bio-inspired aerial robots to understand animal behavior
