Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have engineered a new generation of tiny robotic insects inspired by the remarkable flying abilities of bumblebees. These robotic bugs weigh less than a paperclip and flap their wings up to 400 times per second, reaching peak speeds of about 2 meters (6 feet) per second. They can hover with precision and perform aerial maneuvers such as flips.
Kevin Chen, associate professor at MIT and lead researcher at the Soft and Micro Robotics Laboratory, explained that the intention is not to replace natural bees but to develop robots capable of functioning in environments where insects cannot survive, including indoor farms with tall crops and UV lighting, as well as extraterrestrial environments like Mars.
One key motivation behind this technology is to enable artificial pollination in challenging conditions, potentially aiding agricultural efforts on Mars where natural pollinators like bees would be unavailable. The robots’ improved stamina, agility, and flight precision over previous models bring them closer to real-world applications in assisted pollination.
This innovative research was published in the journal Science Robotics and represents a major step forward in robotics inspired by nature, with implications for sustainable agriculture and space exploration.