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Many applications for small drones require them to stay airborne for extended periods of time. According to Harvard roboticists, smaller drones run out of energy quickly and they want to keep them aloft longer without requiring too much additional energy. Taking inspiration from nature, these RoboBees can now perch during flight to save energy -- using electrostatic adhesion -- the same basic science that causes a static-charged sock to cling to a pants leg or a balloon to stick to a wall.
Image credit: Harvard Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
