MIT researchers are working on robotic insects to help with artificial pollination in indoor farms, potentially improving food production while reducing agriculture’s environmental impact.

These robots mimic real bees by flying to pollinate plants in controlled environments. However, unlike bees, these robots face challenges in endurance, speed, and maneuverability.

The team has now created a new, more agile version of these tiny robots. These updated versions flap their wings like flies, enduring much longer flights – up to 1,000 seconds, far exceeding previous capabilities. They are also much faster and can perform aerial acrobatics like flips.

The researchers have described the methods and results of this study in a paper published in Science Robotics.

The design changes involved reducing the number of wings to improve aerodynamics and stability, allowing for better lift and less interference between wings. The robots now have new transmission systems linking their wings to the actuators, or artificial muscles, which reduce mechanical stress and increase the force for wing flapping. These actuators are made from elastomer layers with carbon nanotube electrodes, enabling quick compression and elongation for wing motion.

A significant improvement is in the wing hinges, which are longer to reduce stress during flight, requiring precise laser-cutting for accurate fabrication. This precision has helped the robots fly longer without losing accuracy, reaching speeds of 35 centimeters per second, and performing complex maneuvers like spelling “M-I-T” in the air.

Applications in and beyond pollination

Despite these advancements, the robots still don’t match the natural agility of bees, which have sophisticated muscle control for their wings. The researchers aim to further enhance the robots’ flight duration, precision for tasks like landing on flowers, and eventually equip them with batteries and sensors for outdoor use.

This work showcases a leap in robotic flight technology and could lead to practical applications in pollination.

Besides, insect-sized robots that are able to fly precisely could have many other applications, including even law enforcement and the battlefield.

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