After 12 years, a group of researchers at Harvard University have successfully created a fly-like robot. This robot isn't the only existing flying robot but it is the smallest. The team started from scratch. There was no motors, sensors, microcontrollers, and microprocessors that were small enough to fit on the bot. Since they worked from scratch, they were able to contribute to many innovations. These innovations include small vision sensors, high power density piezoelectric actuators, and a brand new manufacturing that involves layering laser-cut materials that fold like a pop-up book. The bot can only fly for ten minutes but that is enough time for the researchers to find flaws and fix them to make a better next generation. Power is a difficulty with the robot because there are no batteries as small as the bot. Possible uses for this robot in the future include helping colony collapse disorder, search and rescue, and spying.
NOS Themes:
- Science is collaborative
- Role of motivation and curiosity
Article:
I found this very interesting! I found another flying robot that can pick up small bricks and bring them to a new location. The Quadrotors are controlled by a set of instructions put into a computer, not a remote control. This made me wonder how the Robobee is contolled.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cnn.com/2013/05/01/tech/innovation/flying-robots-quadrotors
It is amazing what they were able to come up with by starting with scratch. If only more scientists did the same. I found an article that discusses military plans for using "android" cockroaches to spy on people.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.popsci.com/military-aviation-amp-space/article/2009-09/darpa-project-releases-video-remote-controlled-cyborg-beetle