Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Researchers at the University of Tokyo built DRAGON, a transformable aerial robot that can change its shape while flying.
Instead of a rigid frame, it is made of four linked segments.
Each segment has two ducted rotors mounted on gimbals, so every link can redirect thrust independently.
• The robot controls its full pose in SE(3) while reshaping mid-air
• It can form different geometries to stabilize itself or interact with objects
• The navigation stack computes the most efficient shape for the current task
• It lifts over 3 kg, which is unusually high for this class of system
This effectively turns a drone into a flying manipulator. Not a gripper bolted on top, but the airframe itself becomes the manipulator.
The authors also mention an interesting idea for range extension: letting the robot walk on the ground when flying is not required.
Researchers at the University of Tokyo built DRAGON, a transformable aerial robot that can change its shape while flying.
Instead of a rigid frame, it is made of four linked segments.
Each segment has two ducted rotors mounted on gimbals, so every link can redirect thrust independently.
• The robot controls its full pose in SE(3) while reshaping mid-air
• It can form different geometries to stabilize itself or interact with objects
• The navigation stack computes the most efficient shape for the current task
• It lifts over 3 kg, which is unusually high for this class of system
This effectively turns a drone into a flying manipulator. Not a gripper bolted on top, but the airframe itself becomes the manipulator.
The authors also mention an interesting idea for range extension: letting the robot walk on the ground when flying is not required.
