The First Takeoff of a Biologically Inspired At-Scale Robotic Insect

Biology is a useful tool when applied to engineering challenges that have been solved in nature. Here, the emulous goal of creating an insect-sized, truly micro air vehicle is addressed by first exploring biological principles. These principles give insights on how to generate sufficient thrust to s...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:IEEE transactions on robotics 2008-04, Vol.24 (2), p.341-347
Main Author: Wood, R.J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acceleration
Actuators
aerial robotics
Aerodynamics
Aerospace engineering
Applied sciences
Automation
Automotive engineering
biologically inspired robotics
Computer science
control theory
systems
Control systems
Control theory. Systems
Devices
Exact sciences and technology
Industrial robots
Insects
Manufacturing
Manufacturing engineering
Micro air vehicles
Micromechanical devices
microrobotics
Prototypes
Robotics
Robots
Thorax
Thrust
Vehicles
Vision systems
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Description
Summary:Biology is a useful tool when applied to engineering challenges that have been solved in nature. Here, the emulous goal of creating an insect-sized, truly micro air vehicle is addressed by first exploring biological principles. These principles give insights on how to generate sufficient thrust to sustain flight for centimeter-scale vehicles. Here, it is shown how novel manufacturing paradigms enable the creation of the mechanical and aeromechanical subsystems of a microrobotic device that is capable of Diptera-like wing trajectories. The results are a unique microrobot: a 60 mg robotic insect that can produce sufficient thrust to accelerate vertically. Although still externally powered, this micromechanical device represents significant progress toward the creation of autonomous insect-sized micro air vehicles.
ISSN:1552-3098
1941-0468
DOI:10.1109/TRO.2008.916997