Engineers at the University of California, Berkeley, have developed a tiny flying robot inspired by flying insects. It is less than 1 centimeter in size with only two tiny magnets and weighs only 21 milligrams, making it the smallest flying robot that can be controlled without wires. Unlike normal drones that need batteries and sensors, this robot moves using an external magnetic field. Though it can only now move in a pre-planned path and can’t withstand extreme winds.
The robot moves by changing the strength of the magnetic field, scientists can make it hover, change direction, and even hit small targets, just like a bee flying from flower to flower. In the future, scientists plan to improve it so it can react and move on its own. This is just one of many small robots the team is working on.
What makes this research exciting is its potential applications. After improvements and future upgrades this tiny robot could be useful in many ways. As it has a small size, it can easily fit into small spaces where bigger drones cannot go. These tiny robots have a lot of potential and could be used in areas like farming, industry, and even healthcare in the future.
