Why Are Scientists Making Robot Insects?

Why Are Scientists Making Robot Insects?

Micro-Robots: A New Frontier in Robotics

Researchers have developed incredibly small robots that can fly, swim, or jump on water, with potential applications in search and rescue, surveillance, and more. These micro-robots use innovative mechanisms to overcome challenges like surface tension, and have the potential to work in swarms to save lives or perform important tasks.

Overcoming Challenges

Creating robots that fly like insects is a challenging task due to their small size, requiring precise components and a lot of energy to flap their wings hundreds of times per second. Insects like bees generate lift by creating swirling vortices above their wings, and researchers have developed robots that mimic this phenomenon, such as the RoboBee.

RoboBee: A Resilient Micro-Robot

Researchers at MIT have developed a more resilient RoboBee by replacing traditional piezos with soft polymers that act like tiny muscles, allowing the robot to withstand impacts and continue flying. This design enables the RoboBee to survive drops and bumps, and even self-heal from certain types of damage.

Real-World Applications

Similar microrobot technology is already being used in real-world applications, such as inspecting turbine engines in airplanes, which can help reduce inspection costs and time. Researchers have developed a tiny robot called HAMR that can run incredibly fast, stick to metal surfaces, and navigate through tight spaces, making it ideal for search and rescue missions in disaster zones.

Future Developments

Researchers are working towards creating autonomous robots that can operate freely, similar to insects, with the long-term goal of combining sensing, power, and computation autonomy. The ultimate goal is to create robots that can operate independently, with their own power source, sensors, and computation, paving the way for a future where robots can interact with their environment in a more natural and autonomous way.

Designing Micro-Robots

Designing hardware like robots requires creating a CAD model first. Onshape, a modern CAD and PDM system, offers a solution by being entirely cloud-based, allowing users to work collaboratively in real-time on any system, including Windows, Mac, Linux, or even on their phone.

Term Definition Example Usage
Micro-Robots Small robots that can fly, swim, or jump on water, with potential applications in search and rescue, surveillance, and more. Researchers have developed micro-robots that can fly like insects and work in swarms to save lives or perform important tasks.
Surface Tension A property of the surface of a liquid that allows it to resist an external force, due to the cohesive nature of its molecules. Micro-robots use innovative mechanisms to overcome challenges like surface tension when flying or swimming.
Swarm Robotics A field of research that focuses on the development of multi-robot systems that can work together to achieve a common goal. Micro-robots have the potential to work in swarms to save lives or perform important tasks, such as search and rescue missions.
Piezoelectric Materials Materials that generate an electric charge in response to mechanical stress, such as vibration or pressure. Traditional piezos were replaced with soft polymers in the RoboBee to allow the robot to withstand impacts and continue flying.
Autonomy The ability of a system or robot to operate independently, without human intervention. Researchers are working towards creating autonomous robots that can operate freely, similar to insects, with their own power source, sensors, and computation.
CAD Model A computer-aided design model that represents the geometry and other characteristics of a physical object. Designing hardware like robots requires creating a CAD model first, which can be done using software like Onshape.
Onshape A modern CAD and PDM system that is entirely cloud-based, allowing users to work collaboratively in real-time on any system. Onshape offers a solution for designing micro-robots by allowing users to work collaboratively in real-time on any system, including Windows, Mac, Linux, or even on their phone.
Vortices Rotating fluids or gases that form a whirlpool-like shape, often created by the movement of an object through a fluid. Insects like bees generate lift by creating swirling vortices above their wings, and researchers have developed robots that mimic this phenomenon.
Soft Polymers Materials that are flexible and can act like tiny muscles, allowing robots to withstand impacts and continue operating. The RoboBee uses soft polymers to replace traditional piezos, allowing the robot to withstand impacts and continue flying.
Self-Healing The ability of a material or system to repair itself after damage, often through the use of advanced materials or technologies. The RoboBee’s design enables it to self-heal from certain types of damage, allowing it to continue operating even after experiencing impacts or bumps.

Micro-Robots Vocabulary Quiz

Test your understanding of the vocabulary used in the context of micro-robots.

1. What does the term “surface tension” refer to in the context of micro-robots?








2. What is the term for the swirling vortices created by insects above their wings to generate lift?








3. What type of material is used in the RoboBee to act like tiny muscles?








4. What is the name of the tiny robot that can run incredibly fast, stick to metal surfaces, and navigate through tight spaces?








5. What is the term for the ability of a robot to operate independently with its own power source, sensors, and computation?









Answer Key:

  1. b) The force that causes a liquid to behave as if it has an elastic surface
  2. a) Vortices
  3. c) Soft polymers
  4. b) HAMR
  5. a) Autonomy


Modal Verbs for Speculating and Making Deductions

Modal verbs such as “may”, “might”, “could”, and “must” are used to express degrees of possibility, ability, and obligation. In the context of the provided text, these verbs can be used to speculate about the potential applications and developments of micro-robots. For example, “Researchers may develop more resilient micro-robots in the future” or “The RoboBee could be used for search and rescue missions”. The verb “must” can be used to make deductions, such as “The RoboBee must have been designed with precise components to flap its wings hundreds of times per second”. Understanding the correct usage of these modal verbs is essential for effective communication in English.

Quiz Time!

Choose the correct answer for each question:

1. The development of micro-robots ____________________ revolutionize the field of robotics.

A) must

B) might

C) could

D) may

2. The RoboBee ____________________ be used for inspecting turbine engines in airplanes.

A) could

B) may

C) might

D) must

3. Researchers ____________________ develop autonomous robots that can operate freely in the future.

A) may

B) might

C) must

D) could

4. The design of the RoboBee ____________________ have required precise components and a lot of energy.

A) must

B) could

C) may

D) might

5. The use of micro-robots in search and rescue missions ____________________ reduce inspection costs and time.

A) might

B) may

C) could

D) must

Answer Key

1. D) may

2. A) could

3. A) may

4. A) must

5. A) might