The
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has demonstrated a new robotic landing gear system designed to enable helicopters to land on and take off from angled surfaces.
DARPA said Thursday the system features four jointed legs that can fold in flight and have force-sensitive contact sensors.
“The equipment – mounted on an otherwise unmodified, unmanned helicopter – successfully demonstrated the ability to land and take off from terrain that would be impossible to operate from with standard landing gear,†said Ashish Bagai, DARPA program manager.
The legs work to determine the appropriate angle to prevent the rotor from touching the landing area.
DARPA funds the robotic landing gear system through the agency’s Mission Adaptive Rotor program.