[ti:Researchers Introduce Floating Drone to Transport Goods]
[al:Science & Technology]
[ar:VOA]
[dt:2024-10-30]
[by:www.voase.cn]
[00:00.00]South Korean researchers have developed a drone designed to stay level when transporting goods over many kinds of surfaces.
[00:11.87]A team at Seoul National University of Science and Technology built a prototype, or test model of the drone. 
[00:22.88]The team recently demonstrated the aircraft for reporters from Reuters.
[00:29.64]The prototype has a transport carrier attached to a drone structure. 
[00:36.38]It is supported by several propellers and rotors that control its height, speed and direction in the air. 
[00:45.86]The aircraft has a handle workers can push to guide it where it needs to go.
[00:53.01]Members of the development team showed how the drone can keep itself level while floating, even when transporting goods up or down stairs.
[01:05.81]Leaders of the research say the drone is programmed to predict human actions for effective interactions.
[01:15.78]Lee Seung-jae is a professor of mechanical system design engineering at Seoul National University of Science and Technology. 
[01:28.10]He was a leader of the project. 
[01:32.07]The research results appeared in a study in IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters.
[01:40.73]The publication is part of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, based in New York.
[01:50.30]Lee told Reuters tests of the drone showed it could transport objects up to 3 kilograms. 
[01:59.64]He admitted this weight restriction likely limits the drone's use cases for many businesses. 
[02:07.84]But he noted that the transporter's design and operating equipment could be used to create a series of other kinds of drone vehicles.
[02:20.19]Lee said one example would be to use the transporter to carry sensitive or breakable materials.
[02:28.61]The technology could also be used to develop "flying taxis" to transport humans, he added.
[02:37.46]When used in a flying taxi, Lee said the drones could be used to change batteries while still flying in the air, instead of having to return to a ground station for recharging.
[02:53.81]In general, experts say drones with multiple propellers are easier to control and move in many different settings.
[03:04.15]But they are also slower and cannot travel as far on a battery charge.
[03:10.97]Drones with multiple rotors have already been used to transport small amounts of goods, food and medical supplies.
[03:22.09]But experts say it is difficult to widely expand use of such drones for commercial purposes.
[03:31.28]This is because such activities would require larger batteries a smaller aircraft could not support.
[03:40.94]I'm Bryan Lynn.