Meet Avocado, the aerial

The dense canopy of tropical rainforests, the most biodiverse habitats on Earth, holds a treasure trove of life. However, exploring these areas poses significant challenges. Climbing trees only provide selective data, and existing robots face obstacles like tangled rotor blades and challenging branch textures. Avocado's ingenious solution? Take a cue from spiders and descend from above.

The robot, tethered by a cable to a tree's top branch, is lowered into the canopy, much like a spider abseiling on its silk thread. In the future, a drone could serve as a mothership, transporting Avocado to unreachable areas and anchoring it in the uppermost branches. Once attached, Avocado maneuvers autonomously, thanks to a winch and rotors hidden in its housing.

But mastering the rainforest dance is no small feat. Kirchgeorg explained, "Lighting conditions in the treetops are very difficult," making it challenging for Avocado's integrated camera to perceive depth. Yet, the robot has successfully navigated indoor obstacle courses and completed a test run in a real tree.

Imagine a future where Avocado, tethered and working silently, maps the microclimate in the tree canopy with humidity and temperature sensors. The robot, capable of carrying a substantial load, could host instruments such as gripper arms and air filters for DNA collection. Kirchgeorg envisions exciting possibilities: "We might even discover some new animal or plant species."

The other potentials of the Avocado robot

Avocado's potential goes beyond scientific exploration. As a finalist in the "XPRIZE Rainforest" competition, the team aims to accelerate biodiversity monitoring in tropical rainforests. With the clock ticking due to deforestation, Avocado represents a crucial innovation in preserving invaluable habitats.