A Chinese team has developed a unique algorithm that gives first-person-view (FPV) drones the ability to perform autonomous aerobatic manoeuvres, unlocking their full potential to outperform humans in intense flight missions.
The breakthrough was published on April 16 in the peer-reviewed journal Science Robotics.
Aerobatic flight, as the name suggests, involves high-risk manoeuvres that require unstable postures – movements rarely executed in conventional flight operations for most aircraft.
However, in nature, aerial acrobatics are a vital skill for many species.
For instance, sparrowhawks and falcons can rapidly adjust speed and direction through vertical or inverted flight to hunt or avoid obstacles. Bats excel at mid-air flips and hanging upside down, while ravens perform complex aerobatics to attract their peers.
“This biological wisdom – transforming ‘high-risk manoeuvres’ into ‘high-survival rewards’ – holds the key to redefining traditional drone flight paradigms,” said Gao Fei, an associate professor at Zhejiang University.
