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A biologically inspired, flapping-wing, hybrid aerial-aquatic microrobot
Yufeng Chen1,2, Hongqiang Wang3,2, E Farrell Helbling3,2
1John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA. rjwood@eecs.harvard.edu yufengchen@seas.harvard.edu.
Science Robotics
|November 7, 2020
Summary
Researchers developed a novel insect-scale robot capable of flight and swimming. This microrobot uses a unique electrochemical propulsion system for seamless aerial-aquatic transitions, overcoming surface tension challenges.
Area of Science:
- Robotics
- Bio-inspired Engineering
- Fluid Dynamics
Background:
- Animals display remarkable multimodal locomotion across aerial and aquatic environments.
- Developing robots with similar capabilities requires overcoming distinct physical constraints and environmental transitions.
- Surface tension presents significant challenges for microrobots operating at air-water interfaces.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and operate an insect-scale robot capable of flight, swimming, and air-water transitions.
- To explore multimodal flapping strategies for efficient locomotion in both air and water.
- To address the challenges of surface tension for microrobot operation.
Main Methods:
- A 175-milligram robot utilizing multimodal flapping for locomotion.
- Electrolytic plates generating oxyhydrogen for buoyancy-driven takeoff.
- Surface tension exploitation for stability during water-to-air transition.
- Analysis of aquatic flapping dynamics and mesoscale device development.
Main Results:
- Successful demonstration of a hybrid aerial-aquatic insect-scale robot.
- Efficient locomotion in both air and water using a multimodal flapping strategy.
- Overcoming interfacial surface tension challenges for microrobot takeoff from water.
Conclusions:
- The developed robot showcases a novel approach to hybrid locomotion.
- Electrochemical propulsion and surface tension manipulation enable seamless environmental transitions.
- This work advances mesoscale robotics for complex, multimodal environments.
