Geckos use their TAILS to stabilise their landings after crashing

Flying geckos are able to use their tails to stabilise their landings after crashing into trees at speeds of up to 13 miles per hour, a new study has revealed. A drone based on the remarkable crash landing capabilities of the small lizard opens the door to future airborne robots that can land on walls or upside down, according to the developers at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems in Stuttgart. They discovered that the colourful creatures use their tail to stabilise themselves after gliding head first into a tree trunk, stopping them falling to the ground. Corresponding author Dr Ardian Jusufi said structures similar to gecko tails could stabilise drones during a landing on a vertical surface. This could lead to robots that can land in inaccessible places, helping search and rescue after a landslide or building collapse, or during military operations, they said. Geckos' climbing abilities give them agility rarely surpassed in nature.