News Summary

• Researchers at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands developed a drone that uses tactile sensing to land on tree branches.
• The prototype features three flexible ‘fingers’ each made up of three sections – or phalanges – just like a human finger.
• Each finger has three tactile sensors in its soft silicone surface.
• Once one of the sensors touches the branch, it sends an electrical signal to the drone.
• Tests of the system showed impressive results: the drone achieved a landing success rate of more than 99%.
• Even when its initial visual estimate of the branch location was off by as much as 60 cm (about 24 in), the drone was still able to correct itself and complete a safe landing.