Drones that can “perch” on the top of buildings to monitor pollution levels are being built by London scientists.
The unmanned aerial vehicles are equipped with tiny air quality sensors and can stabilise themselves in the wind and rain.
They are among the inventions of the Aerial Robotics Laboratory at Imperial College London, which last week hosted the first meeting of the university’s Drone Society. It will hold seminars, courses, and competitions for students and the public, including access to its “flight arena” in South Kensington.
Another design is a thruster-powered UAV modelled on a gannet sea bird which is capable of flying and diving into water. Pollution data could be collected above the Square Mile before it checks water quality in the Thames.
Lab director Mirko Kovac said: “We need more experimental spaces where novel designs can be tested easily.”
