ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Science → News

This new robotic bee can fly in all directions just like a real bee

It’s the first one capable of doing this

Fermin KoopbyFermin Koop
May 26, 2023
in Animals, Environment, News
A A
Edited and reviewed by Mihai Andrei
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterSubmit to Reddit

Researchers have been trying for more than 30 years to create artificial flying insects. Having access to tiny, insect-like robots could be useful in applications from artificial pollination to rescue efforts. Some would probably like to use them for spying as well, but let’s focus on bening applications.

However, getting the tiny robots to act like a true insect hasn’t been easy. Now, a team at Washington State University has reported a breakthrough. They’ve created a robotic bee that can fly in all directions, just like the real deal.

robotic bee
Image credit: Washington State University.

The Bee++ prototype has four wings made out of carbon fiber and mylar, as well as four lightweight actuators to operate each wing. The robot can complete the six degrees of free movement a typical flying insect does, including the tricky twisting motion known as yaw. It’s described in the journal IEEE Transactions on Robotics.

“It’s a mixture of robotic design and control,” Néstor O. Pérez-Arancibia, study lead and professor in WSU’s School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, said in a statement. Control is highly mathematical, and you design a sort of artificial brain. Some people call it the hidden technology, but without those simple brains, nothing would work.

An impressive new little robot

Pérez-Arancibia and his team initially developed a two-winged robotic bee but it was limited in its movement. They then built in 2019 a four-winged robot that was light enough to take off. To allow the robot to do two movements known as pitching or rolling, the researchers made the front wings flap in a different way than the back wings.

However, Pérez-Arancibia emphasized the importance of being able to regulate the intricate yaw movement. Failing to do so leads robots into a state of uncontrollable spinning, rendering them unable to concentrate on a specific target, eventually resulting in a crash. “Lack of yaw control severely restricts capabilities,” he said in a statement.

The presence of all degrees of movement is vital when it comes to executing evasive maneuvers or tracking objects effectively, Pérez-Arancibia said. “Controlling yaw has posed a significant hurdle for a long time. Despite theoretical concepts, practical implementation remained unattainable due to limitations in actuation capabilities,” he added.

In order to enable controlled twisting motion in their robot, the researchers drew inspiration from insects and modified the wing movement to incorporate angled flapping. Additionally, they enhanced the robot’s wing flapping frequency from 100 to 160 times per second. This involved changing the physical design of the robot and the controller design.

RelatedPosts

Scientists Create a ‘Power Bar’ for Bees to Replace Pollen and Keep Colonies Alive Without Flowers
Air pollution confuses bees and hinders foraging
Bumblebee culture? They show remarkable learning through social cues
Bees can not only count, and understand the concept of zero — they also grasp the concept of numerical symbols

The Bee++ weighs 95 milligrams and possesses a wingspan of 33 millimeters, making it larger than real bees, which typically weigh around 10 milligrams. Unlike actual insects, the robot’s autonomous flight duration is limited to approximately five minutes at a time. The researchers are now working on creating other types of insect-inspired robots, such as water striders.

The study can be accessed here.

Tags: bees

ShareTweetShare
Fermin Koop

Fermin Koop

Fermin Koop is a reporter from Buenos Aires, Argentina. He holds an MSc from Reading University (UK) on Environment and Development and is specialized in environment and climate change news.

Related Posts

Biology

Scientists Create a ‘Power Bar’ for Bees to Replace Pollen and Keep Colonies Alive Without Flowers

byTudor Tarita
4 weeks ago
Animals

How on Earth did this small bee get on an island in French Polynesia?

byMihai Andrei
1 year ago
A male leafcutter bee of the genus Megachile. Image credits: Andrew Murray.
Animals

Bees may have originated from an ancient supercontinent

byFermin Koop
2 years ago
Image credit: Pixabay.
Animals

Bumblebees’ remarkable sense of smell guides them safely home

byFermin Koop
2 years ago

Recent news

The Worm That Outsourced Locomotion to Its (Many) Butts

May 16, 2025

The unusual world of Roman Collegia — or how to start a company in Ancient Rome

May 16, 2025
Merton College, University of Oxford. Located in Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, UK. Original public domain image from Wikimedia Commons

For over 500 years, Oxford graduates pledged to hate Henry Symeonis. So, who is he?

May 16, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
  • How we review products
  • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Science News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Space
  • Future
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Physics
      • Matter and Energy
      • Quantum Mechanics
      • Thermodynamics
    • Chemistry
      • Periodic Table
      • Applied Chemistry
      • Materials
      • Physical Chemistry
    • Biology
      • Anatomy
      • Biochemistry
      • Ecology
      • Genetics
      • Microbiology
      • Plants and Fungi
    • Geology and Paleontology
      • Planet Earth
      • Earth Dynamics
      • Rocks and Minerals
      • Volcanoes
      • Dinosaurs
      • Fossils
    • Animals
      • Mammals
      • Birds
      • Fish
      • Amphibians
      • Reptiles
      • Invertebrates
      • Pets
      • Conservation
      • Animal facts
    • Climate and Weather
      • Climate change
      • Weather and atmosphere
    • Health
      • Drugs
      • Diseases and Conditions
      • Human Body
      • Mind and Brain
      • Food and Nutrition
      • Wellness
    • History and Humanities
      • Anthropology
      • Archaeology
      • History
      • Economics
      • People
      • Sociology
    • Space & Astronomy
      • The Solar System
      • Sun
      • The Moon
      • Planets
      • Asteroids, meteors & comets
      • Astronomy
      • Astrophysics
      • Cosmology
      • Exoplanets & Alien Life
      • Spaceflight and Exploration
    • Technology
      • Computer Science & IT
      • Engineering
      • Inventions
      • Sustainability
      • Renewable Energy
      • Green Living
    • Culture
    • Resources
  • Videos
  • Reviews
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Editorial policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.