It looks like a bee, but it is the smallest wireless flying drone ever created in the world. A team of engineers from the University of California, Berkeley, has created a device so small that it seems like a real insect: Less than 1 centimeter in diameter and only 21 milligrams of weightbut capable of hovering in flight, change direction and even hit a goal with precision. A wonder of micro-engineering that It could revolutionize the way we explore narrow spaces, artificially pollute plants or intervene in the human body.
But be careful: even if many call it “drone”, This device is not a drone in the classic sense of the termand not even a completely autonomous robot. It is something different, and perhaps even more fascinating.
How it works
The main challenge in the design of flying micro robots is represented by the integration of fundamental components such as nutrition and control systems, often too bulky or heavy elements for devices of this size. To overcome this obstacle, the team led by Professor Liwei Linprofessor of mechanical engineering at UC Berkeley, found an ingenious solution: Use an external magnetic field to power and check the flight of the robot.
The device has the shape of a tiny propeller and is equipped with Two small magnets. When exposed to a magnetic field, the magnets attract and reject alternately, rotating the propeller and generating a sufficient push to lift it from the ground. By varying the strength of the magnetic field, it is possible accurately modify the trajectory of the flight.
The potential of the micro robot
According to the authors of the study, published on March 28 in the magazine Science Advancesthis innovative micro robot could find applications in different sectors, as illustrated by explains Fans onco-author of the study and research doctor in engineering:
Thus small flying robots can be extremely useful for exploring very narrow cavities or complex environments.
Among the most promising applications there is that artificial pollinationthanks to the ability of the robot of approach and touch specific targetsemulating the behavior of a bee that sets out on a flower to collect nectar.
Currently, the robot is not equipped with on board sensors and therefore cannot adapt in real time to obstacles or environmental variations, such as sudden gusts of wind. However, developers are already working to add Active checks that allow the device to modify attitude and position during the flight.
Towards extreme miniaturization
The current prototype has a diameter of 9.4 millimeters And it can resist impacts and collisions keeping the ability to fly. Thanks to its lightness and robustness, it is able to recover angular deviations up to about 23 degrees after an impact.
For the future, Professor Lin and his team point to further reduce the sizearriving at devices just 1 millimeter in diametercomparable to small little midges. This level of miniaturization would allow you to use much weaker magnetic fieldslike those generated by radio waves, to check the flight.
In addition to the robot inspired by the flight of the bees, the Lin laboratory also developed another device inspired by cockroaches, capable of Run on the floor and even survive a human trampling. Parallel, the researcher Wei Yueco-author of the study, is working on an even more ambitious project: Shames of cooperating micro robotscapable of move, roll, climb and collaborate with each other To perform complex operations, as explained Yue:
I am developing robots of 5 millimeters that can form chains, sides and mobile structures, useful in the medical field. In the future, they could be used in minimally invasive surgical interventions, for example to create stent or remove clots, working within the human body in a coordinated way.
