Collision resistant study of spherical tensegrity structures for protective drone shells

Yaoyao Zhang; Kexin Zheng; Yi Zhao; Zhiyuan Zheng; Bingxing Chen; Muhao Chen

doi:10.1016/j.eml.2025.102312

Collision resistant study of spherical tensegrity structures for protective drone shells

Yaoyao Zhang, Kexin Zheng, Yi Zhao, Zhiyuan Zheng, Bingxing Chen, Muhao Chen

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Due to its lightweight, impact resistance, and energy absorption, tensegrity is a good candidate for drone protection. Researching its collision resistance can significantly improve drone adaptability. This paper examines the structure–ground interaction and collision dynamics of 6-bar, 12-bar, and 30-bar tensegrity spheres through simulations and experiments. Results show consistency between simulations and experiments, confirming the collision dynamics model's effectiveness. The 6-bar tensegrity structure demonstrates excellent collision resistance. Additionally, the influence of structural materials, pretension, and ground types on the 6-bar structure is analyzed, showing that increased cable pretension to certain values reduces peak acceleration during collisions. Drone collision tests with trees and high-altitude drops further confirm the tensegrity sphere's good environmental adaptability and protective effect.

Original language	English
Article number	102312
Journal	Extreme Mechanics Letters
Volume	76
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eml.2025.102312
State	Published - May 2025

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 Elsevier Ltd

Funding

B.C. would like to thank the support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 52205303 ) and the General Program of the Fujian Provincial Science and Technology Department (Grant No. 2023J01056 ).

Funders	Funder number
National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)	52205303
National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)
Fujian Provincial Department of Science and Technology	2023J01056
Fujian Provincial Department of Science and Technology

Keywords

Collision resistant
Spherical tensegrity structures
Tensegrity
Tensegrity dynamics

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Bioengineering
Chemical Engineering (miscellaneous)
Engineering (miscellaneous)
Mechanics of Materials
Mechanical Engineering

Access to Document

10.1016/j.eml.2025.102312

Cite this

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title = "Collision resistant study of spherical tensegrity structures for protective drone shells",

abstract = "Due to its lightweight, impact resistance, and energy absorption, tensegrity is a good candidate for drone protection. Researching its collision resistance can significantly improve drone adaptability. This paper examines the structure–ground interaction and collision dynamics of 6-bar, 12-bar, and 30-bar tensegrity spheres through simulations and experiments. Results show consistency between simulations and experiments, confirming the collision dynamics model's effectiveness. The 6-bar tensegrity structure demonstrates excellent collision resistance. Additionally, the influence of structural materials, pretension, and ground types on the 6-bar structure is analyzed, showing that increased cable pretension to certain values reduces peak acceleration during collisions. Drone collision tests with trees and high-altitude drops further confirm the tensegrity sphere's good environmental adaptability and protective effect.",

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AU - Zhang, Yaoyao

AU - Zheng, Kexin

AU - Zhao, Yi

AU - Zheng, Zhiyuan

AU - Chen, Bingxing

AU - Chen, Muhao

PY - 2025/5

Y1 - 2025/5

N2 - Due to its lightweight, impact resistance, and energy absorption, tensegrity is a good candidate for drone protection. Researching its collision resistance can significantly improve drone adaptability. This paper examines the structure–ground interaction and collision dynamics of 6-bar, 12-bar, and 30-bar tensegrity spheres through simulations and experiments. Results show consistency between simulations and experiments, confirming the collision dynamics model's effectiveness. The 6-bar tensegrity structure demonstrates excellent collision resistance. Additionally, the influence of structural materials, pretension, and ground types on the 6-bar structure is analyzed, showing that increased cable pretension to certain values reduces peak acceleration during collisions. Drone collision tests with trees and high-altitude drops further confirm the tensegrity sphere's good environmental adaptability and protective effect.

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Collision resistant study of spherical tensegrity structures for protective drone shells

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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