The foldable robotic arm enabled UAVs to perform tasks that could not be performed otherwise. The foldable robotic arm enabled UAVs to perform tasks that could not be performed otherwise. (A) A UAV equipped with the self-locking foldable robotic arm was tested outdoors. (B) A foldable arm could be folded into a compact volume and deployed on command. The arm equipped with an adequate end effector could grasp an object or inspect inside a narrow, deep space. (C and D) Examples of tasks that could be performed with the foldable arm. The UAV could inspect locations that are difficult to access, such as underwater and spaces between branches. Furthermore, the foldable arm could allow the UAV to obtain samples from crevices in rugged terrain. Suk-Jun Kim et al. Sci. Robotics 2018;3:eaar2915 Copyright © 2018 The Authors, some rights reserved; exclusive licensee American Association for the Advancement of Science. No claim to original U.S. Government Works