Hiryu: Long Reach Manipulator with Thrusters

Suzumori Endo Lab, Tokyo Tech and Yokohama KH Tech Corp proposed a new concept achieving super long reach articulated manipulator with gravity compensation using thrusters. This concept has been presented in IEEE/ASME International Conference on Advanced Intelligent Mechatronics (AIM2018). The proposed manipulator has (1) ground fixed base, (2) tethers for power and information transmission, (3) articulated links connected by joints, and (4) thruster(s) for weight compensation. Because of weight compensation by thruster(s), the proposed manipulator can be super long reach due to free from gravity. After an experiment using 1 D.O.F experimental setup for principle confirmation, an experimental prototype consisted of passive four-bar linkages, active yaw joints and paired counter-rotating propellers, was developed. We successfully demonstrated the proposed concept by three dimensional motions controlled by thrusters and yaw joints.
Project members: Yoshihide Nakamura, Gen Endo, Hiroyuki Nabae, Koichi Suzumori, and Tetsuo Hagiwara of Yokohama KH Tech Corp.
G. Endo, T. Hagiwara, Y. Nakamura, H. Nabae, and K. Suzumori, A Proposal of Super Long Reach Articulated Manipulator with Gravity Compensation using Thrusters, IEEE/ASME International Conference on Advanced Intelligent Mechatronics, ThBT6.6, 2018
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[@mllhild]

The only advantage compared to using drones connected via cable that I see is ease of control and a bit more stability. The question would be if thats worth the reduced mobility and lift capacity, especially since a version with only a cable could go around numerous corners and be stored easier as well. Further more a cable could be stored on a roll and the drones connected and taking off as the cable rolls out. Given that this would require far more extensive flight control and path planning.

[@AaronSof]

Looking forward to when two fight in each in battle.

[@turtleflightstudios]

This is really interesting, thinking outside of the range of the usual super-heavy and very high-strength manipulator for something of this size, but my main question is what the benefit of such joint-bound propellors would have over, say, a drone-is there significantly extra strength or control? Intriguing concept, either way.

[@Garganzuul]

Perhaps a ducted fan would be appropriate for this application. While the rest of the industry is going the way of collaborative robots, this project seems to be going in the opposite direction.

[@charliedulol]

what's the point? really, why use something like this?

[@HaloWolf102]

You would of said the same thing back when electricity was first discovered, 'why use something like this?'

[@isn0t42]

+James Mitchell No. It's a very legit point. There was a ton of potential in electricity. The question with this thing: Is it at all beneficial to have drones carry an arm on top of the load they're going to carry anyway? Wouldn't it be better to just have the drones without the arm? What's the practical application of this configuration?

[@charliedulol]

exactly
it's noisy, big, not much strong, and not very steady.
what will you use this for?

[@leoahrens]

Fire hose?