A small robot takes flight using magnetic fields without the need for onboard power

A 21 mg robot flies using magnetic fields, mimicking bees.

: Engineers at the University of California, Berkeley, developed a bumblebee-mimicking flying robot that operates without onboard power. Weighing just 21 milligrams, it is the smallest wireless flying robot, propelled by a magnetic field instead of traditional batteries. The invention, highlighted by Liwei Lin, aims for applications in pollination and confined space exploration despite current limitations like passive flight mode. Future iterations may include real-time controls and reduced magnetic field reliance, potentially advancing biomedical and environmental robotics.

The groundbreaking flying robot from UC Berkeley represents a significant leap in robotics, particularly for devices operating at such a diminutive scale. Weighing only 21 milligrams and with a diameter of less than one centimeter, this robot mirrors the flight mechanics of a bumblebee. According to Liwei Lin, a distinguished mechanical engineering professor at UC Berkeley, this robot's capabilities include navigation and precise targeting, similar to how bees collect nectar, as detailed in Science Advances.

Creating such a small flying robot involves overcoming substantial technological hurdles, especially when it comes to power sources. Instead of traditional batteries or electronic systems that add unwanted weight, Lin's team innovatively uses an external magnetic field to power and control the robot. This involves a propeller mechanism influenced by magnets that react to alternating magnetic fields, enabling the robot to fly through precise adjustments to the external field's strength.

The robot, notable for its size, which is markedly smaller than its closest counterpart at 2.8 centimeters, offers unique advantages in applications inaccessible to larger devices. Fanping Sui, a UC Berkeley Ph.D. graduate, highlights potential uses like artificial pollination and exploratory missions in tight spaces such as pipes, opening new avenues for environmental and industrial applications.

Despite its technological advances, the flying robot currently employs a passive flight mode, lacking real-time position monitoring capabilities. Wei Yue, a graduate student and team co-author, indicates that future developments will integrate active control systems for real-time navigation adjustments, enhancing its resilience against environmental disturbances like wind.

Beyond innovations in miniaturization, the robot's dependence on strong magnetic fields generated by electromagnetic coils is a current limitation. However, researchers are optimistic about reducing the robot's size further to less than one millimeter, which would enable it to utilize weaker magnetic fields from sources like radio waves, broadening its operational environments and reducing energy demands.

Sources: University of California, Berkeley, Science Advances

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