RoboBees

Wyss Institute MenuSearch Site Translation Technologies Team News Events Multimedia RoboBees: Autonomous Flying Microrobots Facebook Twitter Linked in Insect-inspired robots with potential uses in crop pollination, search and rescue missions, surveillance, as well as high-resolution weather, climate, and environmental monitoring RoboBees: Autonomous Flying Microrobots Credit: Wyss Institute at Harvard University Inspired by the biology of a bee, researchers at the Wyss Institute are developing RoboBees, manmade systems that could perform myriad roles in agriculture or disaster relief. A RoboBee measures about half the size of a paper clip, weighs less that one-tenth of a gram, and flies using “artificial muscles” compromised of materials that contract when a voltage is applied. Additional modifications allow some models of RoboBee to transition from swimming underwater to flying, as well as “perch” on surfaces using static electricity. The masterminding of the RoboBee was motivated by the idea to develop autonomous micro-aerial vehicles capable of self-contained, self-directed flight and of achieving coordinated behavior in large groups. To that end, the RoboBee development is broadly divided into three main components: the Body, Brain, and Colony. Body development consists of constructing robotic insects able to fly on their own with the help of a compact and seamlessly integrated power source; brain development is concerned with “smart” sensors and control electronics that mimic the eyes and antennae of a bee, and can sense and respond dynamically to the environment; the Colony’s focus is about coordinating the behavior of many independent robots so they act as an effective unit. It’s really only because of this lab’s recent breakthroughs in manufacturing, materials, and design that we have even been able to try this. And it just worked, spectacularly well. ROBERT WOOD RoboBees: Autonomous Flying Microrobots Credit: Wyss Institute at Harvard University. To construct RoboBees, researchers at the Wyss Institute have developed innovative manufacturing methods, so-called Pop-Up microelectromechanical (MEMs) technologies (please also see the Pop-Up MEMS technology page) that have already greatly expanded the boundaries of current robotics design and engineering. All areas for the use of RoboBees are available for licensing. RoboBee: Controlled flight of a robotic insectPlay Inspired by the biology of a fly, with submillimeter-scale anatomy and two wafer-thin wings that flap at 120 times per second, robotic insects, or RoboBees, achieve vertical takeoff, hovering, and steering. The tiny robots flap their wings using piezoelectric actuators — strips of ceramic that expand and contract when an electric field is applied. Thin hinges of plastic embedded within a carbon fiber body frame serve as joints, and a delicately balanced control system commands the rotational motions in the flapping-wing robot, with each wing controlled independently in real-time. Applications of RoboBees could include distributed environmental monitoring, search-and-rescue operations, and assistance with crop pollination. Credit: Wyss Institute at Harvard University. Facebook Twitter Linked in To obtain additional information or to learn more about our intellectual property portfolio or licensing opportunities, please contact us. GET IN TOUCH Publications & Press RESEARCH SPOTLIGHTSNovember 5, 2019RoboBee powered by soft muscles PUBLICATIONNovember 4, 2019Controlled flight of a microrobot powered by soft artificial muscles PRESS RELEASEJune 26, 2019The RoboBee flies solo VIEW MORE More technologies HAMR: Versatile Crawling Microrobot HAMR: Versatile Crawling Microrobot milliDelta: Millimeter-Scale Delta Robot milliDelta: Millimeter-Scale Delta Robot Pop-Up MEMS: Origami-Inspired Micromanufacturing Pop-Up MEMS: Origami-Inspired Micromanufacturing TAGS BIOINSPIRED ROBOTICSENVIRONMENTHARVARD SEASMUSCLEROBERT WOODROBOBEESUSTAINABILITYCONTROLDESIGNELECTRICAL ENGINEERINGMATERIALS SCIENCEMECHANICAL ENGINEERINGMECHANOBIOLOGYMICROTECHNOLOGYROBOTICSACTUATORSROBOTSSENSORS Subscribe to our e-mail updates Enter your e-mail address Enter your e-mail address Enter your e-mail address Newsletter type SUBSCRIBE Contact Careers Resources Publications Wiki Login Harvard Coronavirus Info Wyss Institute Center for Life Science Bldg. 3 Blackfan Circle Boston, MA 02115 Map and directions Cambridge Location 60 Oxford St 4th Floor, Suite 403 Cambridge, MA 02138 Map and directions facebook twitter linkedin instagram vimeo soundcloud © 2020 President and Fellows of Harvard College Hansjörg Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University Terms of Use Privacy Policy Digital Accessibility Report Copyright Infringement 2017 Webby Awards Winner Translation Technologies Team News Events Multimedia Contact Careers Resources Publications Wiki Login Harvard Coronavirus Info