Multi-Modal Vehicle Concept Swims, Flies and Hops

Nov-14-13 The Multi-Modal Vehicle Concept drone can fly, swim and hop through various terrains by shedding and transforming parts of itself as needed.

The transforming drone would travel by land, sea and air either under the control of a remote operator or semi-autonomously. As it adjusts itself to the conditions, the wings could become fins for underwater travel, for example, and then swapped for wheels for on-land travel.

Currently, carrying out a drone mission on such different terrains require a great deal of coordinating and careful planning to ensure all the vehicles arrive in the correct location at the right time. According to Sandia, the Multi-Modal Vehicle would eliminate that complexity because the drone is modular and works off a single interface. One drawback of the drone however, it that since it sheds bits of itself as it travels, recovery is very difficult, if not impossible.

More Info about this Invention:

[VICE.COM]
[SANDIA LABS]

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