Scientists create robotic insects that can even help dusting

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) developed a new robot of a complete and lasting insect like a real animal. The idea is that although this experiment is far from leaving the laboratory, it can even help nature.

Miniature robots, bee observation, butterflies, moths and other species were created based on previous projects with technical limitations. In this way, scientists can multiply realistic movements and behaviors.

The project is part of the Soft and Micro Robot Laboratory within the MIT Electronics Research Laboratory. Professor Kevin Chen is a working leader with four joint officials who participated in the research and published an article in the Science Robotics magazine.

New artificial insects They can fly up to 1,000 seconds without stoppingor about 16 minutes. This period About 100 times higher than the limit reached by the previous modelsThat means a remarkable progress in energy autonomy. Also, they Reach 35 cm/s speedIt is also an internal record.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyxnaluzxau

The view developed by engineers provides weighing these robots “less than a book“While bringing an efficient flight mechanism, the previous generation was twice as long as the wing, which created a more strict and slower movement, and less than the joint.

In new models, The structure of the remaining four blood is more robust and allows more accurate or brave maneuversIn addition to transporting parts like sensors. To reduce the stress of the flight movement, a small structure of 2 cm long and 0.02 cm in diameter – wing bar has also been developed.

The future of pollination?

For now, robots with shape and size of insects are not a fact in practice, but they expect to act in various sectors in the future. Agriculture is a possible commercial area for this application, This equipment can be used in harvests even for tasks such as “herd” and dusting..

In nature, such robot can play the role of insects that carry pollen among plants and help to reproduce plant organisms. In order to protect ecosystems, this basic task has been accepted under threat for reasons such as climate change that may lead to the destruction of certain species.

Insect -shaped robots can already perform relatively controlled flights – Even in the air that honors the institute, it can even plan the word “MIT” on a path.

However, the work is still long and the team -led team -led team needs to increase the flight time and the accuracy of the movement, gently descend to a flower.