DARPA Backs Albatross-Inspired Drone to Extend Flight Range
DARPA has awarded funding to the Albatross project, a collaboration between UTEP, Mississippi State, and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, which aims to develop drones that mimic seabirds’ soaring strategies to achieve longer, more energy-efficient flights. Inspired by albatrosses’ ability to glide vast distances without flapping, the research focuses on teaching uncrewed aircraft systems to exploit rising warm air and shifting wind patterns, reducing reliance on onboard power and significantly extending range. This breakthrough could enhance mapping, monitoring, disaster response, and military missions by making drones more sustainable, cost-effective, and capable of covering larger areas, though challenges remain in scaling the approach to unpredictable real-world conditions.