Scientists from the University of Tampere in Finland have developed a 0.2-inch (4 mm) robot that uses the power of wind and light to hover in the air.
And the “flying aerial robot that relies on the assembly of fast responding to light materials” – FAIRY – weighs only about 1.2 milligrams, which means that it can be inflated even by a gentle breeze.
It resembles a dandelion seed, with superfine hairs emerging from two wings that gently flap when activated by light.
Due to the distance between the filaments of the shell, a swirling ring of air or “vortex ring” is produced as it flies and increases its drag.
This drag stabilizes it when it is blown by the wind, and a similar vortex loop is created downstream of the FAIRY once it is in flight.
However, when a light is shone on the robot, it can cause it to open or bend its wings, changing the shape of the vortex.
This feature can be used to control its take off and landing.
“This artificial seed is superior to its natural counterparts, and it is equipped with a soft trigger,” said researcher Hao Zeng. An actuator is a device that converts input energy, such as light or electricity, into kinetic energy.
“The actuator is made of a light-responsive liquid crystal elastomer, which stimulates the opening or closing of capillaries when excited by visible light,” said Dr. Zeng.
In recent years, many research groups around the world have created miniature “soft” polymer robots that respond to external stimuli.
These include swimming “fish”, drug-delivery robots, flying bees and flies – all of which move after a light is shined on them.
The field of soft robotics was founded on the idea of using more flexible materials to try to make robots modeled on natural shapes, such as cheetahs.
This should make it more dynamic and better able to move around in a variety of terrain.
In their study, published in the journal Advanced Science, the engineers looked to the humble dandelion clock for inspiration for a new flying robot.
“The robot can be operated and controlled by a light source, such as a laser beam or an LED,” Zeng said.
The researchers now hope to improve the robot’s sensitivity so that it can be powered by sunlight.
They will also expand its size to about 4 inches (10 cm) so that it can be used to carry delicate electronic devices, such as GPS receivers, or chemical compounds.