Engineers at the University of California, Berkeley, have created the world’s most miniature wireless flying robot, measuring less than 1 centimeter in diameter and weighing just 21 milligrams. Inspired by bumblebees, the robot can hover, change trajectory, and even hit small targets. The breakthrough, published in Science Advances on March 28, could pave the way for applications in artificial pollination and environmental exploration.
The robot, shaped like a tiny propeller, is equipped with two small magnets that interact with an external magnetic field to power and control its flight. Researchers can precisely guide the robot’s movements by modulating the magnetic field. This innovation overcomes the challenge of integrating power sources and control electronics into such a small device.
The team, led by Liwei Lin, Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering at UC Berkeley, drew inspiration from bees’ remarkable aeronautical abilities. “This flying robot can mimic pollination, approaching targets like a bee collecting nectar,” Lin explained.
While the robot currently lacks onboard sensors for real-time adjustments, making it susceptible to environmental disruptions like wind, plans include adding active control for greater stability. Study co-author Fanping Sui highlighted potential uses, such as exploring tight spaces or inspecting pipes.
“Tiny flying robots are useful for exploring small cavities and other complicated environments,” said Sui. Wei Yue, another co-author, added, “In the future, we will try to add active control to adjust the robot’s position in real time.”
This breakthrough demonstrates the potential of miniature robots in fields ranging from agriculture to medicine. The UC Berkeley team is also developing other bio-inspired robots, including a cockroach-like robot and swarming robots for collaborative tasks, such as minimally invasive surgery.
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