Researchers achieve controlled flight of Biologically-inspired RoboBee

If you are fond of robotics and I assume you are then you will be pleased to see the work done by the folks over at Havard. They have been able to launch a tiny robotic insect into a controlled flight and have been able to control its behavior by keeping it at a stationary position as well as moving it in their desired location.

What’s significant about this particular robot insect is that it features wings just as the natural insects. This isn’t the first time we have seen such an experiment but it is still worth mentioning here. The autonomous tiny robot insect is called RoboBee. This isn’t the first time we have heard about the RoboBee but it is the first time that the researchers have been able to have a controlled flight with it, which is a breakthrough in their research.

The team working on the RoboBee used the new manufacturing and design processes and used delicate control systems in order to have a successful flight. Of coarse as the research is still underway the flight wasn’t as exciting and accurate as we would have wanted but that is obviously the next thing researchers at Harvard will be working on.

As Professor Charles River who works under Engineering and Applied Sciences notes ”Now that we’ve got this unique platform, there are dozens of tests that we’re starting to do, including more aggressive control maneuvers and landing.”

The RoboBee has a mass of 80 mg, has a wingspan of 3 cm and wingbeat frequency of 120Hz.

The things researchers need to work out now include the issue of tether for control and power among other things but they are hopeful that they will be able to add lightweight batteries to the RoboBee that would solve this problem once and for all.