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The Robot Report
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Harvard equips its RoboBee with crane fly-inspired landing gear
- Harvard University researchers have equipped their RoboBee with landing gear inspired by the crane fly to improve landing reliability and protect delicate actuators.
- The updated RoboBee now features long, jointed legs and an improved controller for gentle landings and deceleration on approach.
- Previous landing issues were addressed as the tiny and lightweight RoboBee faced ground effect challenges due to its small size.
- Inspired by nature, researchers mimicked crane fly leg structures to enhance the robot's landing capabilities and reduce ground effect impact.
- The study aimed to improve controlled landings to dissipate energy efficiently post-impact, drawing inspiration from the crane fly's landing characteristics.
- The research team looked into minimizing velocity during landing by studying the unique flying and landing behaviors of the crane fly.
- RoboBee's future applications include environmental monitoring, disaster surveillance, and potentially artificial pollination in vertical farms and gardens.
- The Harvard project, supported by the NSF, focuses on advancing RoboBee's autonomy by incorporating onboard electronics for sensor, power, and control functions.
- By merging biology and robotics, researchers leverage insect-inspired design principles to enhance the RoboBee's flight agility and landing stability.
- Future developments aim at enabling the RoboBee to operate autonomously without tethering, unlocking possibilities in various fields such as agriculture and surveillance.
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