With advancements in drones' perception and control, the demand for enhanced mechanical design and integrated physical intelligence in these robots continues to grow. Effective landing gear systems are essential for preserving the integrity of agile, modern drones, where a careful combination of weight, durability, and complexity must be achieved. In this paper, we design, model and validate a continuum twisted tower origami to serve as a shock-absorbing landing gear for drones. Multiple different configurations with varying number of sides in the base and varying heights were 3D printed with a flexible material as monolithic structures. Characterization was performed using quasi-static testing and drone landing impact force measurements. The shock absorption was successfully demonstrated with a reduction of the total impact force of up to 75% for one of the tested configurations compared to a rigid landing gear during drop testing. Taller landing gears led to better impact force reduction, however with more units the whole structure bends excessively. The presented framework allows for scaling the landing structure in multiple ways, enabling the adaption to different drone platforms in the future, while keeping a single-material 3D-printing process without the need for further assembly. ... Read more

The WaveWings project seeks to harness the synergetic potential of Airborne Wind Energy Systems (AWES) and Wave Energy Converters (WEC) to create a 1 GW deep-offshore renewable energy farm, contributing to the European Union’s net-zero 2050 goals. This report details the design process and outcomes of integrating a Leading-Edge Inflatable (LEI) kite system with a point absorber wave energy converter (WEC). The LEI kite and point absorber generate 2.3 MW and 150 kW of power, respectively. Key trade-offs and design choices were made in selecting the kite, launch system, WEC, and anchoring mechanisms to optimize performance and sustainability. Sustainable design strategies are implemented to reduce the Levelised Cost Of Electricity (LCOE) and Global Warming Potential (GWP). The integration of the airborne and wave energy systems was optimized through simulations to maximize energy absorption and respect synergy requirements. Market and financial analyses indicated that WaveWings project can be competitive on the west coast of Ireland. ... Read more