Bio-Inspired Capsule and Dynamic Base Design for Sustainable Drone Vertiport
Logan Moore, Mostafa Hassanalian · 2025
Bio-inspired engineering offers a promising method for advancing drone infrastructure in remote and challenging environments. This work presents two capsule designs inspired by the Pitcher Plant and Fungi, developed to improve drone landing precision and environmental durability. The Pitcher Plant capsule uses a scissor-jack mechanism to expand the landing platform, enhancing alignment and stability. Although effective in early tests, mechanical issues prompted further refinement. The Fungi capsule, finishing its testing, features a hemispherical shell designed to reduce drag and improve weather resistance. Both capsules are built to integrate with a telescoping base powered by solar energy, supporting modular, multi-drone operations. These innovations lay the groundwork for autonomous drone systems capable of operating independently in the field, with future development focused on flight path automation ,swarm coordination, and self-charging capabilities.