3D-Printed Multifunctional Vehicle: A Hybrid Drone Capable of Flying, Swimming, and Instantly Re-emerging
In a groundbreaking development, a team of applied industrial electronics students at Aalborg University in Denmark have built a 3D-printed hybrid drone that can take off, plunge underwater, maneuver beneath the surface, and then rocket back into the air. The hybrid drone's performance is central to a variable pitch propeller system whose blades rotate to different angles for air and water, showcasing a smooth transition in one continuous shot.
The development of the 3D-printed hybrid drone involves several key components and innovative manufacturing techniques. The drone is constructed using 3D printing for rapid prototyping and customization, alongside CNC machining for precise mechanical components. The heart of the drone's capability lies in its variable pitch propellers. These adjustable blades change their angle depending on whether the drone is operating in air or water, optimizing performance for each environment. In flight, the pitch of the propellers is higher to generate airflow, while in water, it is lower to cut drag and boost efficiency. The propellers can also deliver negative thrust for tighter underwater maneuvering. The propeller system was credited for enabling the quick, repeatable transition.
The students programmed the drone with custom software before moving into the trial phase. The full design-build-test cycle unfolded across two academic semesters, according to associate professor Petar Durdevic's LinkedIn post. Durdevic leads the Offshore Drones and Robots research group at Aalborg University.
The hybrid drone marks a major step forward in robotics, showing that a single vehicle can operate effectively in both air and water thanks to the use of variable pitch propellers. The applications of such a hybrid drone are diverse and promising, including environmental monitoring, search and rescue, marine research, military and surveillance, and deep-sea exploration. Its unique capabilities could be leveraged in search and rescue operations, allowing it to quickly identify and navigate towards targets in both air and water environments. The ability to transition seamlessly between air and water makes this drone ideal for monitoring marine ecosystems, tracking water quality, and observing aquatic life without disrupting the environment.
The current craft remains a proof of concept, but the process proved that relatively accessible tools, additive manufacturing, CNC machining, and bespoke code can produce a complex dual-environment vehicle. The students see broad utility for the hybrid platform, and they hope that their work will inspire further research and development in this exciting field.
Hybrid drones are not entirely new, with similar air-water prototypes unveiled by Rutgers University researchers in 2015 and Chinese scientists in 2023. However, the Aalborg University team's achievement stands out for its successful demonstration of a continuous, smooth transition in one shot, as well as its use of 3D printing and CNC machining for rapid prototyping and customization. This breakthrough is set to pave the way for future advancements in hybrid drone technology.
- The hybrid drone's groundbreaking development was facilitated by additive manufacturing, robotics, and advancements in science and technology, as students at Aalborg University leveraged 3D printing for rapid prototyping and CNC machining for precise mechanical components.
- The integration of additive manufacturing and robotics, combined with the innovative use of variable pitch propellers, demonstrates the potential of science and technology to create multi-functional vehicles that can operate efficiently in both air and water.
- Looking towards the future, the success of the hybrid drone project serves as a catalyst for innovation in the fields of science, technology, and robotics, inspiring further research and development in multi-purpose, dual-environment vehicles, with potential applications ranging from environmental monitoring to deep-sea exploration.
