WHO
A fast and agile robotic insect developed by MIT could someday aid in mechanical pollination.

WHAT
MIT researchers are developing robotic insects that could someday swarm out of mechanical hives to rapidly perform precise pollination. Inspired by the anatomy of these natural pollinators like bees, the researchers have overhauled their design to produce a tiny, aerial robot that is far more agile and durable than prior versions. The new bot can hover for about 1,000 seconds, which is more than 100 times longer than previously demonstrated. The robotic insect, which weighs less than a paperclip, can fly significantly faster than similar bots while completing acrobatic maneuvers like double aerial flips. The revamped robot is designed to boost flight precision and agility while minimizing the mechanical stress on its artificial wing flexures, which enables faster maneuvers, increased endurance, and a longer lifespan. The new design also has enough free space that the robot could carry tiny batteries or sensors, which could enable it to fly on its own outside the lab. The robot also reached an average speed of 35 centimeters per second, the fastest flight researchers have reported, while performing body rolls and double flips.

WHERE
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
WHY
With a more efficient method for artificial pollination, farmers in the future could grow fruits and vegetables inside multilevel warehouses, boosting yields while mitigating some of agriculture’s harmful impacts on the environment.
WHEN
The team wants to see how far they can push this new design, with the goal of achieving flight for longer than 10,000 seconds. Next, they want to incorporate sensors, batteries, and computing capabilities on the robot in the next three to five years.
For more information, contact Melanie Grados at