A Lightweight Toggleable Adhesion Prototype for Multirotor UAV Landing on Tilting Platforms

Researchers Teighin Nordholt and Melissa Greeff from Queen's University have developed a lightweight toggleable adhesion prototype that dramatically improves multirotor UAV landing reliability on tilting platforms, such as those found on uncrewed surface vessels (USVs). The system uses a motor-driven corkscrew that engages hook-and-loop material on the landing surface, allowing active adhesion during landing and controlled release during takeoff. Tested on a modified Crazyflie 2.0 micro quadcopter with a custom tilting platform, the approach increased landing success from an average of 40% (baseline) to 80% across platform tilts up to 43 degrees, using only a simple vertical PID controller. The mechanism is designed to be lightweight and toggleable, addressing a key challenge in autonomous maritime operations where wave-induced tilt and wind disturbances often cause landings to fail.

The prototype's success hinges on its simplicity and effectiveness. By engaging the corkscrew with the hook-and-loop surface upon touchdown, the drone gains immediate mechanical adhesion, preventing sliding or bouncing off the platform. For takeoff, the corkscrew disengages, allowing a clean release. The researchers found that appropriately selected actuation settings were crucial for optimal performance. This work, to be presented at the International Conference on Unmanned Aircraft Systems (ICUAS) 2026, represents a significant step toward more reliable autonomous drone operations in challenging environments like ship decks, where precision landing is critical for tasks such as cargo delivery, surveillance, and search and rescue.