Americans have developed a bumblebee robot that can fly in space

At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, they are creating a new generation of miniature robots – prototypes of a bumblebee and a grasshopper. Researchers drew inspiration from nature when developing them.

One of the projects is a tiny bumblebee robot, lighter than a paper clip. It fits easily in the palm of your hand and can reach speeds of up to 2 meters per second. The device can hover, perform flips, and hover in place. This maneuverability is achieved thanks to ultra-fast wings that beat up to 400 times per second.

Movement is provided by soft artificial muscles that extend and contract. The wings and internal mechanism, similar in principle to a clockwork mechanism, are laser-cut. According to the developers, real bumblebees were the main source of inspiration. The researchers hope that these robots could act as artificial pollinators in areas where insects struggle to survive, such as in vertical farms with ultraviolet lighting. They even plan to use these robots in space or on other planets. However, the scientists emphasize that they do not intend to replace bees in the wild.

At the same time, the team is working on a robotic grasshopper. It’s smaller than a human thumb, but it can jump about 20 centimeters and traverse a variety of surfaces, from grass to ice and leaves.

To be continued…