Tongji Team Gives Flying Robots a Bionic Impulse Arm That Extends in 0.07 Seconds

The Tongji University team designed the arm around stored elastic energy, allowing a pulsed release rather than a conventional motor-driven extension. In tests, the mechanism deployed in 0.07 seconds, and the resulting peak impact was reduced by roughly three-quarters compared with a rigid, directly actuated arm. That combination matters for aerial manipulation: fast motion usually introduces reaction forces that disturb a drone’s attitude, so a lightweight impulse-based arm can reach and interact with targets quickly while keeping the platform stable. The researchers position the design as a step toward flying robots that can perform rapid contact tasks—such as inspection, sampling, or perching—without sacrificing control. Further work will likely focus on payload integration and repeated operation.