Insect-sized robot takes flight: RoboBee X-Wing

For years, scientists have wanted to create flying robotic vehicles the size of insects. The tricky bit has been building something that can produce enough thrust while still being light enough to fly, without being tethered to an external power source. Now, a group of researchers have hit on a new design. At half the weight of a paper clip, 'RoboBee X-wing' has achieved untethered flight using ultra-lightweight solar cells, powering piezoelectric actuators, via a stripped down circuit board. This technology is in its infancy, but could pave the way for a new generation of miniature drones. Researchers hope these insect-bots could manoeuvre around much more cramped spaces than conventional, larger drones, potentially helping with environmental and disaster monitoring.

26th June 2019

[ExplosionChimp]

This is basically the first step to building swarms of robot bugs for mass surveillance and poison ones for assassinations.

[duckflight]

Man...if humanity can just survive the next 200 years...the world will be quite a place to live.

[NeoRazor]

Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.

[MMW]

Frankly I started to feel afraid of these robotic insects.

[skejcik]

enviromental and disaster monitoring ? good one

[grb]

My "flying basketball" stays in the air a lot longer.

[mugin]

This is a military funded project. Why do they try to give it a positive spin????

[TheVVumpus]

"Danny Dunn, Invisible Boy" one of my favorite children's books has finally become reality.

[painkillerjones]

New "RAID" - now with BATTERY ACID!!!!

[_MrLee]

If anyone thought that Dragonfly in the beginning was cute I'm coming for you!

[techiedavid]

I prefer for my robot overload to be bigger than me.

[Technician-yeqz]

If we are able to see this now, that means the military already has it!!

[REAlREAction]

Who is ready to defeat the terminator?

[VDAM]

Long way to go before they reach the robo-bee from Ritchie Rich

[andiman]

"and help in environment and disaster monitoring" Yeah right, and why would they need to be so tiny?? This is a military project..

[jamilam]

Somebody is gonna make that a weapon js

[ElorondElrond]

Imagine little cameras that can be carried by them. An exellent spying fly.

[pinkdispatcher]

Where exactly does it show untethered flight? It may carry all electronics and its power supply, but in all shots I see a tether.

[Coltranized]

Swarm insect drones reporting for duty/ready for battle.

[robertmcmanus]

This should scare the hell out of everybody. They will soon be littering the landscape like cigarette butts. Privacy will be a thing of the past.