Researchers from the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne in Switzerland and Konkuk University in Korea published a paper in the journal Nature that they have successfully developed a new flapping wing micro-flying robot by studying the mechanism of rhino beetle wing expansion and retraction. The robot can passively unfold and retract its wings without the need for a large number of actuators.
According to IT House, scientists have long believed that insects, including beetles, actively spread and fold their wings through their chest muscles, just like birds and bats. However, due to technical limitations, it has not been possible to determine exactly which muscles the beetles use and how they achieve this process.
The research team found that the rhinobeetle's wings fold like origami and can be neatly stowed under the stiff elytra before being passively spread out as they fly. Most of the previous studies have focused on how to mimic the folded structure of beetle wings, ignoring the movement of the base of the wings.
Through closer observation of rhino beetles, the researchers accidentally discovered that these insects can passively spread their hindwings and fly by the force generated by elytra and wing flapping. After landing, they also use their elytra to push their hindwings back into their bodies, without using additional muscle energy.
Inspired by this, the research team developed a miniature flying robot that weighs only 18 grams. Unlike previous flying robots, this robot can passively retract its wings through elastic tendons, and passively spread its wings to take off and maintain a stable flight when flapping its wings, and by stopping flapping after landing, the wings can quickly and passively retract without the need for additional drives.
This new microrobot has a wide range of application prospects, and can enter small spaces that cannot be reached by humans to perform search and rescue missions; It can also be used as a tool for biologists to study the mechanisms of insect flight, and even for espionage. In addition, due to the low frequency of slapping, this robot is very safe and can be used as an engineering research tool or as a children's toy.
In the future, the research team said they will further improve the robot's flight performance and give it the ability to crawl and other ground movements, making it closer to real insects.