ETH Zurich’s FlexiQuad uses a flexible ring-shaped frame to survive collisions at around 25 km/h while retaining agile flight.
Developed by Luca Girardi and Stefano Mintchev’s Environmental Robotics Lab, the quadcopter distributes its components around a flexible ring instead of a rigid central body. The frame bends sideways during impact but remains stiff vertically, allowing fast flight and recovery after collisions.
The team has also demonstrated carrying objects heavier than the drone itself. Autonomous navigation outside the lab remains under development: impacts can make the frame vibrate and blur camera images.