Researchers in South Korea have developed a flying platform engineered for transporting lightweight goods.

Created by the Seoul National University of Science and Technology’s Mobile Robotics Lab, the Palletrone features an elevated cargo platform suspended by a quadcopter drone.

The platform is controlled by an operator using the handle to exert forces and torques, ensuring stability during transport. It uses a center-of-mass estimation technique, utilizing an “extremum-seeking control” algorithm and ensuring stability, even with uneven cargo loads.

Despite its novelty, the Palletrone has limitations. The noise generated by the quadcopter drones can reach 60 to 85 dB at a distance of 10 meters, which may risk hearing damage. Additionally, the Palletrone can only transport loads of up to three kilograms.