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robot insects for dangerous tasks
MIT is making robot insects to perform tasks too small or dangerous for humans. They can fly, swim, jump on water, and inspect engines, with future applications in search and rescue and exploration.
- 🐝 RoboBees use piezoelectric crystals or soft polymer muscles to flap wings hundreds of times per second.
- 💧 A RoboBee can split water into hydrogen and oxygen to create buoyancy, then use an explosion to break surface tension and fly.
- ⚙️ Some robots use tiny combustion engines, like Cameron's penny-sized engine, for powerful flight and jumping.
- 🛢️ The HAMR robot, inspired by cockroaches, can stick to metal surfaces and inspect turbine engines for cracks.
- 🚁 Swarms of insect-sized robots are envisioned for disaster zone search and rescue, navigating tight spaces.
A close-up shot of a person's eye with a tiny, intricate robot insect perched on their fingertip in the foreground.