Odd-Looking GimBall Drone Can Fly, Roll To The Rescue

Drones can be used for more than just fun, or military purposes. Yesterday, we came across a very hardy and rugged Hiro Action Sports drone that we theorized can be used for rescue scenarios. Now, we get wind of a drone that has actually been specifically designed for such use cases. Flyability's GimBall might not look like any drone you've seen so far, enclosed inside a geodesic cage. But that odd form is precisely what was needed to make the UAV suitable for even the most dangerous environments.

Most intelligent drones these days are programmed to avoid obstacles. GimBall, however, doesn't. That's because in many search and rescue operations, obstacles and bumps are unavoidable and sometimes a drone will even have to squeeze itself into those unstable spaces. So instead of making GimBall more intelligent, its developers focused on making the robot more robust and impervious to damage from crashing into structures.

GimBall practically has two layers of protection. Immediately outside of the drone's body is a rotating protective frame made of carbon fiber. This gives both stability and flexibility to the drone. It allows GimBall to remain stable and correct its position and angle even after bumping into walls, posts, and other obstacles.

The second and outermost layer is a cage that serves multiple purposes. Aside from protecting the drone itself by providing a cushion against impact. At the same time, it also protects people from the drone as it will not harm people even when bumping into them. Lastly, it also serves as a wheel, allowing GimBall to roll over terrain when the need arises.

Flyability was just awarded $1 million from UAE's Drone for Good contest.. That amount will go into further improving GimBall's ability to navigate through difficult environments, like adding infrared imaging for low light situations and improving the drone's indoor localization.

VIA: Engadget