The main application researchers have in mind is for search and rescue. A swarm of drones can explore an unstable or dangerous area, and identify key areas to focus rescue efforts on.

At about the size of a small bird, the CICADA Mark II drone is mounted beneath the wings of a Tempest drone, and hauled to altitude by a diaphanous balloon. The fiberglass and carbon fiber Tempest ...

They used this behaviour as a model when creating tiny microdrones, which they named "FlyCroTugs." The drones are equipped with cables and winches, and can attach the cable to an object and then ...

Unlike birds and insects, bats have flexible wings made of a thin membrane, allowing them to fly more efficiently. Inspired by this, researchers at EPFL’s School of Engineering have designed bat-like ...