The BHMbot robot measures just 2 cm in length and has the potential for applications in various fields such as search and rescue and inspecting mechanical structures.
Professor Yan Xiaojun and his colleagues at Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics have created a 2 cm long insect robot weighing less than 2 grams, roughly the size of two fingernails, according to a report by China Daily on December 2. The research has recently been published in the journal Science Advances.
The 2 cm insect robot weighs less than 2 grams and has protrusions that are the size of two pinheads. (Photo: Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics).
Miniaturizing robots to the size of insects is more challenging than building larger robots, as robots the size of bees cannot be equipped with traditional motors. Therefore, the search for a compact power system has long been a challenge for researchers worldwide.
“Disconnecting from an external power source means integrating batteries and circuit boards into the robot. However, the added weight will hinder the robot’s movement,” said Liu Zhiwei, an associate professor at Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
In 2009, Yan discovered an interesting phenomenon: beyond a certain voltage threshold, direct current induces continuous vibrations, a phenomenon typically associated with alternating current. This hinted at potential applications, such as creating wings for small drones.
It wasn’t until 2017 that Yan began designing an insect robot capable of moving without an external power source. Over the next three years, his team experimented with dozens of designs and refined parameters, but the robot still could not move.
To address this, Yan studied the movement patterns of beetles, grasshoppers, wild horses, and rabbits. Ultimately, the jumping and running motions of the leopard cat inspired the research team to design the BHMbot biomimetic insect robot. This robot runs faster than cockroaches and maneuvers better, capable of moving backward and executing complex paths under wireless control.
In tests, BHMbot can navigate through tight spaces and reach specific locations to carry out tasks. Through a MEMS microphone, it can pick up SOS audio signals from Bluetooth speakers buried under rubble, with the audio data then transmitted to a computer and converted into actual sound, Liu explained. Equipped with a tiny camera, the robot also aids in capturing images inside aircraft engines.
According to Yan, this tiny robot has potential applications in various fields such as search and rescue and inspecting mechanical structures. They will also undergo further improvements in the future. “Our ultimate goal is to develop a super-small drone that flaps its wings like a bee,” Yan added.
