Tiny Robot Flies on External Magnetic Fields

A groundbreaking flying robot, measuring less than 1 centimeter in diameter and equipped with two tiny magnets, has been developed by engineers at the University of California, Berkeley. This innovative creation is capable of controlled flight, weighing a mere 21 milligrams, making it the smallest wireless robot of its kind in the world. Drawing inspiration from the flight capabilities of bees, the robot can hover, change trajectory, and even hit small targets with precision.

Liwei Lin, Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering at UC Berkeley, highlighted the remarkable aeronautical abilities of bees that artificial flying robots struggle to replicate. The tiny flying robot can be wirelessly controlled to approach and hit designated targets, mimicking the pollination process observed in bees as they collect nectar and navigate through their environment.

Shaped like a small propeller and featuring two magnets, the robot utilizes an external magnetic field to induce spinning motion, generating enough lift to elevate itself off the ground. By adjusting the strength of the magnetic field, the flight path of the robot can be accurately controlled, showcasing its potential for precise navigation in various environments.

Comparatively, the next largest robot with similar flight capabilities is nearly three times larger, emphasizing the significance of miniaturization in enhancing maneuverability and exploration capabilities in confined spaces. Fanping Sui, a study co-first author, highlighted the potential applications of such tiny flying robots in tasks like artificial pollination and inspecting hard-to-reach areas.

While the current version of the robot operates passively without onboard sensors for real-time adjustments, future developments aim to incorporate active control mechanisms. This advancement would enable the robot to adapt its attitude and position dynamically, enhancing its resilience to external factors like sudden environmental changes or disturbances.

Efficient operation of the robot currently relies on a strong magnetic field generated by an electromagnetic coil. However, ongoing efforts to further miniaturize the robot to less than 1 mm in diameter could enable control using weaker magnetic fields, potentially opening up new possibilities for remote operation using radio waves.