Sherbrooke University

Drones are already very useful, but they could be even more so if they could land on vehicles without requiring those vehicles to slow down for them. A new system makes that possible, allowing for on-truck landings at speeds of 110 km/h (68 mph).

Scientists working to expand the potential landing zones for drones have demonstrated a novel approach, which could enable drones to touch down on one of the more common surfaces in the urban environments – sloping roofs.

We have seen fixed-wing drones pull off some impressive maneuvers, with versions that dive like a seabird, land like a perching bird and even using shape-shifting wings to soar through the air like one. But landing on and taking off from vertical surfaces?

Fixed-wing drones have their shortcomings, namely the space needed for take off, but a team of Canadian scientists has come up with a potential solution. The drone can land and take off again on water with the potential to stop and charge itself with solar power in between flights.