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Researchers stated in the journal Advanced Science that FAIRY, which stands for Flying Aero-robots based on Light Responsive Materials Assembly, is a brand-new robot that weighs only 1.2 milligrammes and is the first flying robot we've seen composed of soft materials that react to light.
The robot's creators believe that it will be used to assist reduce the decline of pollinators (such as bees) in the wild. The robot was inspired by dandelion seeds, and it might be used in the same way in the future.
Light may be used to control the spread of the FAIRY's bristles when it is hoisted into the air. The ultra-lightweight robot then flies and, like the seeds it is based on, may eventually spread across a large region.
"The FAIRY may be powered and controlled by a light source, such as a laser beam or LED," stated Tampere University micro roboticist Hao Zeng, according to Science Alert.
"It seems like science fiction, but our proof-of-concept trials indicate that the robot we designed is a key step toward actual applications appropriate for artificial pollination."
The FAIRY bot's design is incredibly porous and light, both of which let it breathe via the air. It can also form its own vortex ring, similar to a dandelion seed, which increases aerodynamics and ensures that the machine can go long distances on its own.
There is some control over the wind since the shape of the flying machine may be changed to meet it, similar to a ship's sail. It, however, cannot be directly piloted in the same manner that a drone can.
Individual strands of the bristly filament used to make the robot are only 14 microns thick. The bristles are connected via an actuator, which is a flexible component.
"This artificial seed is fitted with a soft actuator, which makes it superior to its natural counterparts," explains Zeng. "The actuator is comprised of light-responsive liquid crystalline elastomer, which causes the bristles to open or close in response to visible light stimulation."
After testing them in wind tunnels and under laser lights, Zeng and his colleagues foresee millions of these artificial "seeds" conveying pollen on the wind and directed by light toward plants that require pollination. However, there is still a lot of work to be done before that can happen.
The researchers are thinking on ways to make these FAIRY bots biodegradable, as well as techniques to manage where they fall more accurately. The project, which began in September 2021, is planned to last through August 2026.
Dandelion seeds have an ingenious design, some of which scientists have duplicated, that permits them to travel 10 to 100 kilometres in hot, dry, windy conditions. These FAIRY bots might carry out the same tasks without the use of a battery or some external power source.
"This would have a tremendous impact on agriculture globally since pollinator decline due to global warming has become a severe danger to biodiversity and food supply," Zeng adds.
