Researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute developed a bat-inspired ultrasound perception system for small drones that enables navigation in low-visibility environments like smoke, fog, and darkness. The system combines a physical acoustic shield (inspired by bat ear cartilage) to reduce propeller noise with a neural network called Saranga that recovers weak echo signals from noisy measurements. Operating at milliwatt-level power, the approach reduces power by 1,000x, weight by 10x, and cost by 100x compared to existing solutions. Target applications include search and rescue, cave exploration, and anti-poaching operations where cameras and lidar fail.
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