One thing we love about modern technology is the speed with which it evolves. The field of UAVs is no exception. The specific type of the UAV which has caught our eye is the new round shaped UAS with very broad range of movement options.
MUWA – a project which covers a multi-purpose multi-surface UAV. MUWA means Multi-field Universal Wheel for Air-land Vehicle and also means "dream ring" in Japanese. The device is a type of quadrocopter with all of its four propellers covered inside of a circle which encompasses the whole device, but only horizontally.
The UAS then, looking quite like a regular wheel, has the ability to fly, roll, spin and hover. The UAV is even able to maintain a certain angle relative to the ground and with its extreme possibilities as far as movement is concerned makes it possibly one of the best tools there are to explore unknown places with limited or difficult movement.
Flight as such is extremely demanding as far as the energy required is concerned. It is one of the main reasons for hybrid devices which combine land movement and aerial flight to even exist. The best way to consume energy while keep moving is to swap between types of movement. Another reason to employ such a way of moving is to reach places and spaces which would otherwise remain unreachable by flight. The vertical rolling, in particular, can become handy in places where flight for any UAV would be impossible.
For additional information check the video:
Source: http://www.suasnews.com/2013/11/25901/quadrotor-wheel-can-fly-float-and-roll/
Image author: Unavailable
Image source: http://jetex.org/cja/images/plans-misc/pic-flying_wheel.gif
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