Researchers at Singapore University of Technology and Design have built a prototype sailboat drone called ALBATROSS that takes an unconventional approach to reaching the water. Rather than flying gracefully, it drops from an aircraft and spins like a maple leaf seed, using autorotation to slow its descent and soften the impact. That design removes the need for landing gear, extra actuators, or sensors to manage separate flight and floating modes.
The craft, described in a Science paper, uses rigid wingsails to generate aerodynamic lift during descent and then propulsion once on the water. A rudder that moves side to side like a fish's tailfin provides additional thrust, all with only three actuators and three primary sensors. Weighing 1.107 kg, ALBATROSS is meant to fill the gap between expendable aircraft-deployed ocean instruments and larger floating robots launched from ships or shore.
Its makers say it is well suited for rapid aerial deployment followed by energy-efficient sailing, such as monitoring oil spills or time-sensitive weather events. They position it as an alternative to large automated sailboats like Saildrone and Sailbuoy, and claim a deployment range of more than 100 km, compared with about 7 km for the hybrid aquatic micro aerial vehicle SailMAV. The Register notes that a PwC Strategy& report forecasts the sea drone market reaching €18.9 billion by 2030, with 84 percent of that demand expected to come from civilian uses{