A Chinese research team has successfully developed an air-ground dual-purpose unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) weighing only 300 grams, equivalent to the weight of an apple, showing promising potential in future Mars exploration.
The UAV can take off at any time, traverse obstacles, and boasts superb endurance, according to the research team from the School of Astronautics of Harbin Institute of Technology. It is of vital significance for scientific exploration of Mars, the team added.
Targeting special mission scenarios such as Mars exploration, the dual-purpose UAV is designed to be lightweight, compact, capable of takeoff and landing in a flexible way, and with minimal power consumption. The team has solved a series of technical challenges.
"On the ground, it mainly rolls by shifting its center of gravity. In the air, it relies on a pair of contra-rotating coaxial rotors, controlled by a steering engine to adjust the forward direction, to control torque and force, ultimately achieving stable flight," said Zhu Yimin, Ph.D candidate of School of Astronautics, Harbin Institute of Technology.
The research team has developed multiple models of air-ground dual-mode robots with different configurations, moving by rolling close to the ground, saving power, reducing energy consumption, and achieving a flight endurance time of more than six times that of drones of the same size.
"In terms of its future prospects, we hope that China can achieve Mars exploration through the air-ground dual-purpose unmanned aerial vehicle so as to have longer endurance and more time for observation. Our second goal is for such machines to be suitable for construction in many underground spaces and for exploring unknown underground spaces. We also need robotic means for inspection and environmental detection. We have now materialized all these functions," said Zhang Lixian, professor of School of Astronautics, Harbin Institute of Technology.
China successfully develops air-ground dual-purpose drone for scientific exploration of Mars
Some Iranians in Türkiye are crossing back over the border, driven by worry and desperation, as a nationwide communications blackout in Iran has left them cut off from their loved ones.
Protests have erupted in many Iranian cities since Dec. 28. They initially began with Tehran bazaar merchants demonstrating against the sharp devaluation of the national currency rial, and soaring inflation, before spreading to other cities. The unrest has led to casualties among both security forces and civilians.
At the Turkish-Iranian border, many are returning with no certainty about what awaits them, filled instead with questions and growing fear for those on the other side of the border.
"I went to Van yesterday for internet. I urgently needed to use the internet. I got it done. Now I'm heading straight back. There are protests everywhere. We can't get any news. We can't communicate with our families. And it's not just me, there are many Iranians outside the country who can't reach their families," said Feriste, an Iranian citizen.
With communications blacked out across Iran, those outside the country feel powerless to check on the situation back home. For some, this silence has prompted them to return across the border, even as tensions continue to rise.
"We can't get any news. There is no internet. Everything is shut down. I want to search. I want to find out. I want to see my brother. I'm going to see my family," said Husnu, an Iranian citizen.
"I work in Türkiye, and I have no news from Iran at all. I'm going back because I'm worried about my family. It's been days since I last heard from them, and because I'm worried, I'm returning to Iran now. Of course, we are concerned about our safety. We don't know what awaits us there," said another Iranian.
With protests escalating and government blackouts still in place, many Iranians are caught between staying in safety abroad and risking everything to reconnect with their families.
"We had to come to Türkiye because we couldn't reach our families. Schools were closed already. All official institutions were shut down. We have no information about other cities either, because there is no communication network there. There is no television, no internet. We can't even check Twitter," said Nazlican, another Iranian citizen.
Iranians in Türkiye return home, fearing for their families amid unrest in Iran
Iranians in Türkiye return home, fearing for their families amid unrest in Iran
