Communications of the ACM
First Wireless Flying Robotic Insect Takes Off
University of Washington engineers have created a wireless insect-size flying robot.
Credit: Mark Stone/University of Washington
Engineers at the University of Washington have created the first wireless, insect-sized flying robot.
Weighing slightly more than a toothpick, RoboFly is powered by a laser beam and uses a tiny onboard circuit that converts the laser energy into enough electricity to operate its wings.
The engineering challenge is to provide adequate power, because both the power source and the wing controller are too large to fit on the robot. The team used a laser beam pointed at a photovoltaic cell, which is attached above the robot to convert the laser light into electricity. The laser alone does not provide enough voltage to move the wings, so the team designed a circuit that increased the seven volts from the photovoltaic cell up to the 240 volts required to fly.
To enable the robot to control its wings, the engineers added a microcontroller to the same circuit.
Future versions could have more advanced "brains" and sensor systems to help the robots complete tasks independently, with one potential application in locating methane leaks.
From University of Washington
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