Robotic bee pollinates flowers

Scientists have created a tiny drone that can transport pollen between plants. They hope it could one day take on the function of bees, which are important pollinators but whose numbers are declining.

[tgoddard]

It is so incredibly sad that research like this needs to be done... 😞

[ParedCheese]

"The next step is making it autonomous.."

Since it appears that the research is at the "yes, things crashing into flowers DO dislodge pollen" stage, I think that may be some time away. 🤔

[Eisenwulf]

So instead of trying to save the bees, we invent robo bees...great?! 🤔

[ejbh]

lots of bald horses wondering why the humans shaved them?

[TheRationalizer]

I foresee a sharp decline in bee populations as they are run over my manic drones :)

[uchihamadara]

This is a Neoclassical approach (weak sustainability) to a problem. The problem of the extinction of bees needs an Ecological approach (strong sustainability).

[elegantdisruptor]

40, 000 bees per hive with ~3, 000 in the fields for no more than 1 hr per day (considering weather, etc.)and have a low replacement costs == 375 robots at 8 hr/day (very generous)// figure maybe 10% (37.5) will always be out needing repairs // leaving 338 actually working. // assume losing 5 per day to accidents or malfunctions. (4 months * 30 * 5) = 600 lost annually.// So you would need 975 robot bees to replace one hive for one season. Be really generous and say the 975 robots would cost $20 each - that would be $19, 200 per 'hive' and the 5 per day loss would be a $12, 000 write-off. Do we need to talk about salaries for support staff?

[wjfox]

This video is actually from 2017...? (yet showing in my latest subscriptions). Confused.

[longbeachboy]

No. The next step is to develop a battery that lasts more than one minute.

Hint: It's not going to happen...

[PaladinOfNerds]

Don't save the bees, just replace them...

[georgeflitzer]

Yes very sad and it will change honey also