A new flapping microrobot inspired by the wing dynamics of rhinoceros beetles has been developed

Researchers at Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL, Switzerland) and Konkuk University (South Korea) have taken inspiration from the wing dynamics of rhinoceros beetles to develop a flapping microrobot that can passively deploy and retract its wings without extensive actuators, writes Techxplore. While birds and bats use muscles to flap their wings, the wing movements of insects like beetles have remained perplexing. Understanding how the hindwings of beetles fold and unfold has led to the development of a more efficient and lightweight robot.

Traditionally, researchers focused on mimicking the origami-like structures of beetle wings for robotic systems, neglecting the movements at the base of the hindwings. However, a recent study revealed that rhinoceros beetles leverage the shock-absorbing capacity of their hindwings during in-flight collisions, enabling passive deployment and retraction during flight.

By implementing these passive mechanisms, researchers successfully built a flapping microrobot that can fold its wings along the body at rest and passively deploy its wings for takeoff and stable flight. Elastic tendons installed at the robot's armpits enable the wings' passive closure, eliminating the need for additional actuators.

The discovery of these passive wing-deployment mechanisms brings researchers closer to simulating insect behavior more accurately. The 18-gram microrobot developed in this study, which is around double the size of a real beetle, showcases the potential for future search and rescue operations in confined spaces. It can enter collapsed buildings inaccessible to humans, and with its small scale, navigate narrow passages. When the robot cannot fly, it can land, perch on surfaces, and switch to other locomotion modes like crawling.

The wings of the microrobot naturally rest against its body when it crawls, enhancing mobility in tight spaces and safeguarding against damage. When ready to take flight, the wings easily re-deploy, transitioning the robot back into flight mode.

Apart from search and rescue applications, the researchers highlight other potential uses for their flapping robot. Biologists could employ the robot to study insect flight biomechanics, while its design could make it an inconspicuous surveillance tool to observe real insects in forests where conventional drones are unsuitable. Additionally, the microrobot possesses potential as an engineering research tool or even as an educational toy due to its safe and human-friendly low-flapping frequency.

While preliminary tests have yielded promising results, future advancements will focus on enhancing the microrobot's flight capabilities and implementing ground locomotion features like perching and crawling. Further research may also explore whether other small insects, like tiny flies, employ similar passive strategies due to limited muscle availability.

The successful integration of passive wing mechanisms from rhinoceros beetles demonstrates the remarkable potential of biomimicry in robotics. By emulating nature's intricate designs and movements, researchers aim to develop robots that can navigate challenging environments and perform vital tasks efficiently.

Earlier SSP reported that butterflies and moths utilize static electricity for pollination.