Robot insects explore the environment

Researchers at Michigan Tech University are using insects to explore potentially dangerous environments before getting people there.

Professor Khalil Najafi, Dean of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Dr Erkan Aktakka are looking for ways to harvest energy from insects, and the benefits of miniature robots.

"Through the acquisition of energy from insect flight, by attaching electric cameras, microphones and sensing devices, communicating with an insect, we can detect hazards in local areas. the point where people are going to go , " Najafi said.

The environmental monitoring equipment attached to the insect will
help identify dangerous places (Photo: physorg)

The main idea of this research is to collect the insect's biological energy or body temperature or its movements. The attached devices will be powered by insect wing movement into electricity, so battery life will be extended.

Batteries can be used to power small sensors that are implanted in insects (such as a small camera, a microphone, or gas sensor) to collect critical information from hazardous environments. A piezoelectric spiral generator is designed to maximize output power by using a suitable structure in a restricted area.

In an article called "Energy obtained from insect flight" published in the Journal of Micromechanics and MicroEngineering , the team described some of the techniques for sweeping energy from wing motion and data presentation. on electrons measured from beetles.

This research was funded by the United States Advanced Defense Research Projects Agency. Universities are preparing to patent for intellectual property, and then seek commercial partners to bring the technology to market.