Russian Students Develop Drone-Mounted Manipulator for Soil Sampling
The device allows drones to collect soil samples weighing up to 0.7 kilograms from depths of at least 25 centimeters.
Students in Russia have developed a drone-mounted manipulator capable of collecting soil samples weighing up to 0.7 kilograms from depths of no less than 25 centimeters. The announcement was made by University 2035.
The device was created by students at the P. A. Solovyov Rybinsk State Aviation Technical University. They were trained as part of the federal project “Personnel for Unmanned Aerial Systems,” operated by University 2035.
Drills and Sensors
According to the university’s press service, the manipulator was produced using 3D printing with PETG plastic. Designed for multicopters, it can collect samples weighing up to 0.7 kilograms. The unit includes a drill, drive mechanisms, and sensors, and is controlled by a microcontroller.
The developers say the drone approaches a designated point, after which the microcontroller receives a signal and initiates the sampling process. The battery charge is sufficient for up to ten such operations.
The team also noted that, compared with similar systems, their solution can drill deeper boreholes and extract several times more sample material.
