A team of engineers has succeeded in developing a drone with an innovative design that makes it almost invisible during flight, as its high rotational speed causes it to appear to the human eye as a faint, transparent fog instead of a clearly defined object.
According to the British newspaper The Times, the prototype bears the name: “Phantom Twist”The airframe rotates at a speed of about 25 revolutions per second, while its propeller moves in the opposite direction. The researchers describe this design as making the plane turn into a “ghostly smudge” that visually blends into the surrounding background.
Innovation depends on a phenomenon Motion blurIt is the same phenomenon that makes fast-moving objects, such as propeller blades, appear blurred or almost invisible to the eye. Unlike previous attempts that focused on using transparent materials or camouflage techniques that mimic the surrounding environment, this design relies on changing the way humans perceive the movement of the body itself.
Michael Rubinstein, a roboticist at Northwestern University in Illinois, said that most attempts to hide drones have focused on making them resemble the surrounding environment, but the team investigated the possibility of designing the drone to be compatible with the way humans see movement, noting that reducing visibility through constant movement has not received many studies previously.
A different design than traditional aircraft
“Phantom Twist” differs from the usual quadcopter drones, which rely on four propellers mounted on a fixed structure that can be easily seen. The new model uses a single propeller that rotates in one direction, while the entire fuselage rotates in the opposite direction.
This rapid movement prevents the eye from fixing a clear image of the aircraft, making its components appear almost transparent during flight. Although the sound of its rotation may reveal its presence, seeing it becomes more difficult compared to traditional aircraft.
Artificial intelligence contributed to the development of design
The research team relied on artificial intelligence and computer design programs to create about 20,000 virtual models of the aircraft, with the aim of choosing the best distribution of internal components, including batteries, motor, electronic circuits, and balance elements.
The researchers tested these designs using digital simulations of different backgrounds and models that mimic human vision, before selecting the less obvious designs and turning them into a working model.
According to the team, the final version of the drone is about ten times less detectable than traditional quadcopter drones.
Potential civilian uses
The researchers believe that the primary goal of developing the aircraft is for civilian uses, such as monitoring wildlife, monitoring bird nests, surveying natural areas, and inspecting bridges and facilities, as less visible aircraft can carry out these tasks without disturbing animals or affecting the behavior of people in the area.
Drones in conflict zones
The development of this technology comes at a time when drones have become an essential element in modern warfare, as they have proven their ability to carry out precise operations at a lower cost compared to traditional weapons.
During the war in Ukraine, Russian forces used drones in coordinated attacks targeting vital installations, while Ukrainian forces, in turn, carried out operations using drones behind the front lines, which included targeting military and oil installations inside Russian territory.
Although the developers of “Phantom Twist” focus on civilian applications, the rapid developments in drone technology are arousing widespread interest due to the possibility of their future employment in multiple fields, including the security and military fields.
