DALER or Deployable Air-Land Exploration Robot, a drone that is capable of both flying and walking, is specifically designed for helping rescue victims trapped in dangerous situations after a natural disaster.
A team of scientists at the National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Robotics division in Switzerland built DALER after drawing inspiration from the movements of common vampire bats.
Common vampire bats propel themselves forward by utilizing the tips of their wings. DALER takes a similar approach by rotating its triangular wingerons forward on the ground to walk and to do all kinds of tricky movements in the air.
Perhaps the coolest part about this unique drone is the fact that its wings can easily retract using a simple motor and flexible skin. This allows DALER to explore hard-to-reach spots most drones and other small aircraft would not be able to venture.
