Innopolis university: Tensodrone

Main articles:

• Unmanned aerial vehicle (drone, UAV)
• Robots (robotics)

2020: Announcement of Tensodrone

On August 19, 2020 it became known that in Russia designed "not killed" the drone. Specialists of Competence center of NTI in the "Component Technologies of Robotics and Mechatronics" direction based on the University Innopolis called development of Tensodrone. He is capable to sustain falling from twenty-meter height and to save working capacity after blow.

Tensodrone

As it was explained, the shock-resistant UAV of the University Innopolis is designed by the principle of a tensegrita which is used in architecture at construction of bridges. The robot looks as frame construction in which it is used interactions of the rods working for compression, and the stretched ropes. Rods do not adjoin with each other, but hang in space, and their relative provision is fixed by ropes therefore any rod is not bent. Motors, cameras, controllers and other elements of the UAV are installed in different parts of tensegriti-structure. The installation diagram of elements can change.

Employees from different laboratories of the center began development of Tensodrone with summer of 2019. The first prototypes of tensegriti-robots were created from normal wooden sticks and elastic bands, further construction became complicated and elements from a coal plastic were applied.

Tensodrone

In robotics this principle is already used for development of pliable, easy and shock-resistant robots. The device working at the principle of a tensegrita — the NASA Super Ball Bot robot for a research of surfaces of planets.

UAVs of similar construction were developed in Imperial College London, however their prototype did not pass a test stage.

Developers from England did not solve conceptual problems and did not think up how qualitatively to implement such drone: their prototype could not fly up. It is the tough drone in a tensegriti-cage. Our command built in drone elements tensegriti-structure which thereby is both a frame, and a protective cage at the same time. Roman Fedorenko, the associate professor of the center explained

Roman Fedorenko is an associate professor of the center

For construction of a working prototype we used carbonic tubes and kevlar threads with the springs manufactured to order. Other small elements are printed by carbon fabrics and soft plastic on the 3D-printer. These materials in addition to the principle of a tensegrita provide the necessary durability of Tensodrone: during tests after falling from 20 meters the prototype did not lose working capacity and was not damaged. Dmitry Devitt, the junior researcher of the University told Innopolis

The device can be used for inspection and mapping of premises, and at the expense of durability to apply in Wednesday, hardly accessible for the person.

For August, 2020 Tensodrone flies independently on the set mission, including for GPS on the street. We integrate into it our algorithms of planning of the movement for autonomous inspection and mapping of premises with a bypass of obstacles. Roman Fedorenko, the associate professor of the center added

In the long term the device will be finished to the updated opportunity: The UAV will be able to change a form due to active change of length of rods or a tension of ropes. Tensodron with changed in you weed geometry will be able to fly, for example, about spaces with a large number of obstacles.

For August, 2020 developers of the University Innopolis prepare for patent protection of Tensodrone and plan commercial development of the project. According to the estimates of specialists of the University Innopolis, serial Tensodrone in the market will cost about 1.5 million rubles. Will be included the land control panel and cameras with shooting in proper permission in this price.

Robotics