Who says you can’t teach an old drone new tricks?
Researchers at the German Aerospace Center also know as DLR were successful in landing an autonomous drone on a moving vehicle.
The agency posted video of their technique on YouTube this past week. The drone was able to land on the car that was reportedly traveling at around 46 miles per hour.
Researchers say they stuck a special platform equipped with optical markers to the vehicle’s roof. The autonomous drone has a tracking system that zeros in on the platform and calculates an accurate landing.
More fascinating, the drone adjusts its speed to match the vehicle. They synchronize in real-time thanks to advanced algorithms,according to DLR.
Landing gear isn’t needed on the drone either—which opens up the possibility of carrying a heavier load.
There could be many applications for this system—the center’s website cites crisis management in the event of a disaster as just one of the possibilities.
