New Research: Bat-Inspired Drones Navigate Blind With Ultrasound
US researchers built palm-sized drones using bat-inspired ultrasound and AI to navigate fog, smoke, and tight spaces without cameras.
4 min read
According to Interesting Engineering, US researchers developed a drone small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. The key hardware choice is the sensor stack: ultra-light ultrasound emitters and receivers, modeled on how bats use echolocation. Instead of relying on cameras or LiDAR, the system sends out sound pulses and processes the returning echoes to build a real-time picture of the surrounding space. The onboard AI then uses that data to make navigation decisions. No GPS signal required. No visual feed required.