A raft of research, supported bystartupdevelopments, suggests drones inspired by nature are the future of flight.
Thats something Matej Karasek sees echoes of in his own company.
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Creating a large nature-inspired drone runs into the same problem that the dodo had: it cant fly.
Quadcopters are sensitive to damage, he says.
If they hit something, they break.
Flapping ones might be less sensitive and potentially something that could restart again if it crashes.
Points of differentiation
Animal Dynamics Stork drone doesnt see size as an issue.
We want to be able to operate in places where theyre very remote, he says.
Were delivering aid to an area that has collapsed infrastructure.
There isnt going to be an airport there.
Flapper was founded in 2019 to solve an entirely different market need in the world of entertainment.
Karasek envisaged his bird-like drones taking the place of actual birds in theme park shows.
Then the pandemic hit, and demand in the sector suddenly cratered.
The ability to perch on a range of surfaces and structures, for example.
For those reasons, bioinspired drones hold huge promise, says Michel.
Its a different frequency, says Karasek.
As we use robots and flying robots more and more, well be surrounded by them, says Karasek.
Safety will become very important, because right now thats whats limiting the use of drones.
Regulation is cited by both Karasek and Foster as one of the key curbing factors on their growth.
As we build confidence with regulators, we can expand out, says Foster.
Its a staged, incremental approach.
Its not a case of developing a product, selling it to someone, and away you go.
The regulatory framework isnt there at the moment.
Even if it were, these bioinspired drones have their drawbacks.
Thats something that bioinspired drones will struggle with.
Right now, Flapper sells drones with a 50cm wingspan, which Karasek calls quite large.
The company plans to miniaturise, rather than expand, the size of the devices.
If we compete against toy manufacturers, theyll just copy us, Karasek claims.
If we compete against [giant Chinese drone manufacturer] DJI, theyll just copy us as well.
Were trying to find our own way to keep developing the technology but keeping our niche.
The current focus on bioinspired drones reflects an interest in the romantic nature of the drone, reckons Michel.
Beyond their potential practical benefits, bioinspired drones also have a significant narrative power, he says.
They just seem so futuristic, and they tap into a primal human fascination.
The nature-inspired designs also benefit from a broader push towards sustainability, reckons Foster.
Nature is very efficient, he says.
Nature doesnt have an awful lot of energy to throw around.
Weve been through a phase as humans where energy was cheap.
You could mine another bit out of the ground and throw some more fuel on it.
The point of differentiation is key in a competitive, growing sector.
And in a space where off-the-shelf drones are traditionally seen as quadcopters, these more bioinspired versions stand out.
