Students create a drone that can perch on the ceiling like a spider

In case drones weren't insect-like enough, students at Stanford have created one that can stick to walls and ceilings like a spider.

To perch on a vertical surface, the quadcopter drone flies gently into a wall and using a tail, pitches up on its side. Two groups of opposed microspines, or rough patches, then pull in opposite directions to grip the wall. To sit on the ceiling, the drone can fly directly up and use the microspines to catch hold in the same fashion. 

While the microspines are able to latch onto tiny bumps and holes, it's not as reliable on smooth surfaces like polished concrete, Morgan Pope, a student involved with the research, noted in IEEE Spectrum. Wind could also pose a problem. Read more...