ROBOTS THAT CAN fly or swim already exist but what about one that can do both?
Researchers from Harvard University and Wyss Institute has developed Robobee, a tiny robot insect that can do both.
The microbot is smaller than a paperclip and can fly and hover like an insect, flapping its wings at a rate of 120 times per second.
The way it flies is similar to a bee, but to ensure it could swim in water as well, it took inspiration from the Puffin. The bird uses its wings to both fly and propel itself through the water when diving for fish.
Using this information, the researchers limited the robot’s wing speed from 120 flaps per second to nine and adjusted the stroke angle of its wings so it could move through the water.
There are limitations to what it can do – it’s connected to a power source so it can’t go wandering around on its own – but the researchers believe this has the potential to be adapted to larger robotic designs.
Have a look at it in action.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
have your say