A hybrid microdrone that can fly, dive into water, swim, propel itself back out of the water, and safely land.

Inspired by the biology of a fly, with submillimeter-scale anatomy and two wafer-thin wings that flap at 120 times per second, robotic insects, or RoboBees, achieve vertical takeoff, hovering, and steering. 

The tiny robots flap their wings using piezoelectric actuators — strips of ceramic that expand and contract when an electric field is applied. Thin hinges of plastic embedded within a carbon fiber body frame serve as joints, and a delicately balanced control system commands the rotational motions in the flapping-wing robot, with each wing controlled independently in real-time. 

RoboBees

Inspired by the biology of a fly, with submillimeter-scale anatomy and two wafer-thin wings that flap at 120 times per second, robotic insects, or RoboBees, achieve vertical takeoff, hovering, and steering.&nbsp;The tiny robots flap their wings using piezoelectric actuators — strips of ceramic that expand and contract when an electric field is applied. Thin hinges of plastic embedded within a carbon fiber body frame serve as joints, and a delicately balanced control system commands the rotational motions in the flapping-wing robot, with each wing controlled independently in real-time.&nbsp;Applications of RoboBees could include distributed environmental monitoring, search-and-rescue operations, and assistance with crop pollination.The RoboBee is retrofitted with four buoyant and a central gas collection chambers. Once the RoboBee swims to the surface, an electrolytic plate in the chamber converts water into oxyhydrogen, a combustible gas fuel.

Article describing the background of the project, the mechanical design, and the brain and navigation.



Flight of the robobees.

This paper recounts experiences designing the chip for the robot. Highlights the major challenges faced when designing for such a unique form factor, how designs and specifications were set by each collaborating lab, the difficulties of integrating a plethora of IP consisting of in-house digital and

From PDF to GDS: Designing the RoboBee SoC.

Weight	

Flapping speed

A hybrid microdrone that can fly, dive into water, swim, propel itself back out of the water, and safely land.



Weight	175	milligram
Flapping speed	220 to 300	Hz (in the air)
	9 to 13	Hz (in water)