A Passive Elastic-Folding Mechanism for Stackable Airdrop Sensors
Fuente:
arXiv
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| Auteurs principaux: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Preprint |
| Publié: |
2026
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| _version_ | 1866911530352640000 |
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| author | Kim, Damyon Honjo, Yuichi Iizuka, Tatsuya Okubo, Naomi Endo, Naoto Matsubara, Hiroshi Kawahara, Yoshihiro Morita, Naoto Sasatani, Takuya |
| author_facet | Kim, Damyon Honjo, Yuichi Iizuka, Tatsuya Okubo, Naomi Endo, Naoto Matsubara, Hiroshi Kawahara, Yoshihiro Morita, Naoto Sasatani, Takuya |
| contents | Air-dispersed sensor networks deployed from aerial robotic systems (e.g., UAVs) provide a low-cost approach to wide-area environmental monitoring. However, existing methods often rely on active actuators for mid-air shape or trajectory control, increasing both power consumption and system cost. Here, we introduce a passive elastic-folding hinge mechanism that transforms sensors from a flat, stackable form into a three-dimensional structure upon release. Hinges are fabricated by laminating commercial sheet materials with rigid printed circuit boards (PCBs) and programming fold angles through a single oven-heating step, enabling scalable production without specialized equipment. Our geometric model links laminate geometry, hinge mechanics, and resulting fold angle, providing a predictive design methodology for target configurations. Laboratory tests confirmed fold angles between 10 degrees and 100 degrees, with a standard deviation of 4 degrees and high repeatability. Field trials further demonstrated reliable data collection and LoRa transmission during dispersion, while the Horizontal Wind Model (HWM)-based trajectory simulations indicated strong potential for wide-area sensing exceeding 10 km. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2603_18861 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | A Passive Elastic-Folding Mechanism for Stackable Airdrop Sensors Kim, Damyon Honjo, Yuichi Iizuka, Tatsuya Okubo, Naomi Endo, Naoto Matsubara, Hiroshi Kawahara, Yoshihiro Morita, Naoto Sasatani, Takuya Robotics Systems and Control Air-dispersed sensor networks deployed from aerial robotic systems (e.g., UAVs) provide a low-cost approach to wide-area environmental monitoring. However, existing methods often rely on active actuators for mid-air shape or trajectory control, increasing both power consumption and system cost. Here, we introduce a passive elastic-folding hinge mechanism that transforms sensors from a flat, stackable form into a three-dimensional structure upon release. Hinges are fabricated by laminating commercial sheet materials with rigid printed circuit boards (PCBs) and programming fold angles through a single oven-heating step, enabling scalable production without specialized equipment. Our geometric model links laminate geometry, hinge mechanics, and resulting fold angle, providing a predictive design methodology for target configurations. Laboratory tests confirmed fold angles between 10 degrees and 100 degrees, with a standard deviation of 4 degrees and high repeatability. Field trials further demonstrated reliable data collection and LoRa transmission during dispersion, while the Horizontal Wind Model (HWM)-based trajectory simulations indicated strong potential for wide-area sensing exceeding 10 km. |
| title | A Passive Elastic-Folding Mechanism for Stackable Airdrop Sensors |
| topic | Robotics Systems and Control |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.18861 |