Researchers have developed the 'RoboFly' to aid in rescue missions, detect gas leaks and pollinate crops. The penny-size robot, inspired by flying insects, can move through the air, on the ground and ...

A new type of flying robot is so tiny and lightweight — it weighs about as much as a toothpick — it can perch on your finger. The little flitter is also capable of untethered flight and is powered by ...

On gossamer wings, the delicate robot flits lightly into the air. Its rectangular body, protruding with functional greeblings and connecting copper strands, leaves the ground, wobbles and then lands ...

Making something fly involves a lot of trade-offs. Bigger stuff can hold more fuel or batteries, but too big and the lift required is too much. Small stuff takes less lift to fly but might not hold a ...

A team of engineers from the University of Washington has developed the first insectoid robot that can take flight without a power cable. Share on Facebook (opens in a new window) Share on X (opens in ...

Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. This is one flying insect you don’t want to swat. It doesn’t ...

You might remember RoboBee, an insect-sized robot that flies by flapping its wings. Unfortunately, though, it has to be hard-wired to a power source. Well, one of RoboBee's creators has now helped ...

Though insect-sized flying robots have been around for a while, none had been able to take untethered fight until now. Engineers at the University of Washington have revealed that the RoboFly has ...

Qualitative studies of airflow over insect wings have long been possible, thanks to the use of smoke trails. With a new robotic fly, flow and force can be analysed quantitatively, so theories of ...