(ORDO NEWS) — The miniature and tiny robot, resembling a dandelion seed, can be carried by the wind and pollinate plants. And due to the use of a “smart” polymer, its flight can be controlled by illuminating it with a laser beam.
In recent years, “smart” polymers have been created – macromolecules that are able to change their configuration under the influence of various external stimuli, such as temperature, radiation, electromagnetic fields.
Such compounds are considered especially promising for the creation of miniature flexible sensors and entire robotic systems.
Engineers have already demonstrated such robots that can “walk”, jump and swim.
And recently, developers from the Finnish University of Tampere have received a tiny polymer device that resembles lightweight dandelion seeds.
Like them, the robot can fly using the power of the wind, but its behavior can be controlled using light.
The FAIRY robot (“fairy”) is created on the basis of a highly porous material, weighs only 1.2 milligrams and is easily carried by the wind even over long distances.
At the same time, the parts of the system are connected using a smart polymer, a liquid crystal actuator controlled by light.
By illuminating it with a laser beam or simply with an LED, you can change the shape of the polymer structure, “commanding” FAIRY to take off, land, or change its speed in the air.
So far, this requires darkness, although the authors are already working on a more sensitive version of the system, which can be controlled in sunlight.
Scientists believe that in the future, a myriad of such devices will find application in agriculture.
Biologists are watching with great concern the constant decline in the number, diversity and lifespan of insects that serve as plant pollinators.
Even today, some important crops have to be pollinated by hand. This stimulates the development of robotic systems that could take on such a task.
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