Bee Robot Now Lands Better Thanks to Crane Fly-Inspired Legs

Creating an advanced, insect-inspired micro air vehicle (MAV) is impressive, but it’s not very practical if it can’t land properly. That’s why researchers at Harvard University have upgraded their RoboBee with long, jointed legs modeled after those of the crane fly, improving its landing ability significantly.

What Is RoboBee?

For those unfamiliar, the RoboBee is a tiny robot that mimics a bee, flying with the help of artificial-muscle-powered wings. It has a wingspan of less than 3 cm and weighs only about 0.1 grams. Though currently tethered to an external power source and processor, some versions are already solar-powered and fully wireless.

Previous versions of RoboBee managed to perform impressive feats like underwater flight and wall perching, but landing smoothly on surfaces remained a challenge. The main issue? The air turbulence generated by the wings as the bot nears the ground—a phenomenon known as ground effect—often caused instability.

“Before, our approach to landing was just shutting off the bot mid-air and hoping it would land upright,” said Christian Chan, an engineering grad student who led the mechanical redesign.

To fix this, the team equipped RoboBee with four long, flexible legs inspired by the crane fly. These legs make contact with the ground before the body enters the turbulent zone, providing much-needed stability. A new control algorithm also ensures smoother descent, avoiding uncontrolled drops.

Nature as a Source of Robotic Innovation

According to postdoctoral researcher Alyssa Hernandez, the project highlights how studying the vast diversity of insect anatomy can fuel innovation in robotics. She also noted that robots like RoboBee can contribute to biological research by allowing scientists to test biomechanical theories in new ways.

The researchers recently published their findings in Science Robotics and showcased the updated RoboBee in an accompanying demonstration video.

Read the original article on: New Atlas

Read more: Watch: Skillful Robotic Gripper Uses Measuring Tape As Fingers