Remember that in "Minority Report" starring Tom Cruise, the microrobots resemble spiders, and their job is to find the target person and forcibly scan their eyeballs. In the movie, they are flexible, intelligent, and as inhuman as machines perform their assigned tasks, which is really impressive. These miniature robots not only show the infinite possibilities of future technology, but also make people full of imagination about the form and function of future intelligent devices. A groundbreaking study by researchers from the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne in Switzerland and Konkuk University in Korea has unveiled the passive unfolding and retracting mechanism of rhinobeetle wings, resulting in the development of a new flapping wing micro-flying robot. China Exportsemi Web will discuss this innovative technology and its potential impact with readers and friends.
Take inspiration from the natural world
The natural world has always been a treasure trove of scientific and technological innovation. The rhinobeetle, a seemingly inconspicuous small insect, has a unique mechanism of wing movement. Scientists captured every subtle movement of the rhinobeetle's wings with a high-speed camera and found that the unfolding and retracting of its hindwings is a completely passive process that does not rely on the active contraction of muscles. This discovery not only subverts our traditional understanding of the flight mechanism of insects, but also provides a new idea for the design of micro-flying robots.
Breakthrough technology implementation
Inspired by the mechanism of rhino beetle wing movement, the research team designed and built a miniature flying robot weighing only 18 grams. By simulating the movement of the wings of the rhino beetle, this robot can complete the passive deployment and retraction of the wings without the need for complex driving mechanisms. During takeoff, the robot's wings are able to spread quickly, providing sufficient lift; When landing or when concealment is required, the wings can be quickly retracted, making the robot much smaller.
Pictured: Researchers from the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne in Switzerland and Konkuk University in Korea jointly developed a new flapping wing micro-flying robot
The possibilities for application prospects are endless
The application of this new flapping wing micro-flying robot has broad prospects. In the military field, it can be used as reconnaissance equipment, silently entering enemy positions for reconnaissance; In the medical field, it is expected to be an adjunct to enter the human body for minimally invasive surgery; In terms of environmental monitoring, it can fly into polluted areas and collect air quality data; In agriculture, it can be used to monitor crop growth and even carry out precision pesticide application. In addition, the robot is expected to play an important role in many fields such as disaster relief, building inspection, logistics and distribution.
Epilogue
The microrobots in science fiction movies once gave us a vision of the future, and today, with the continuous advancement of technology, these dreams are gradually becoming reality. The advent of the new flapping wing micro-flying robot is not only a major breakthrough in the field of bionics, but also brings more possibilities to our life and work. We have reason to believe that with the continuous development and improvement of technology, these miniature flying robots will play a more important role in the future and become indispensable assistants for human society.
