Named CAROS, for Climbing Aerial RObot System, looks like a normal quadcopter. It flies to and fro like a quadcopter, then turns perpendicular to the ground and attaches itself to surfaces it needs to inspect. If it falls, it can catch itself and either fly back into place or land somewhere safely. It has an autonomous navigation system that takes information from its sensors and lets it map 3D environments, like building walls or the inside of rooms.

Building inspection is useful, but it's not the most exciting thing a drone can do. Fortunately for our short attention spans that crave excitement, CAROS is also going to be a fireproof rescue worker. From KAIST:

This technology also can be used to assess the situation in a fire disaster. Previously, a mobile robot equipped with a water hose and throwing-type mobile robots were developed to extinguish the fire, but it had a disadvantage when entering and moving through narrow spaces. The CAROS technology can be used as a surveillance robot for use in fires or disasters, as it can pass through narrow indoor environments by changing its mode from wall climbing to flying, and vice-versa, depending on the situation. If CAROS is equipped with a thermal camera, it can detect and track humans through thermal images. In addition, it can transmit environment information by wireless communication.

We've seen this fireproof variant before, and I at least will never tire of watching drones emerge from flames unscathed. For people trapped in burning buildings, the aesthetic appeal of a cool drone is way less important than the rescue it heralds, which it will do. Because it can climb walls, fly, and survive fire.

Watch a video about the fireproof drone below: