The tiny flying robot powered by solar energy

The device is called RoboBee X-Wing; it is only 5cm long and has a 3.5cm wingspan.

People usually associate the word «robot» with a huge humanoid machine, but today’s robotics is moving in the opposite direction. Thus, the researchers at the Harvard Microrobotics Lab have created a tiny solar-powered insect robot.

The choice of this power source is not accidental: batteries are heavy and large making the vehicle less maneuverable and compact. Solar panels are located above the right-angled wings and below them is a 90mg electronics panel that converts light into energy. The robot’s total mass is 259 mg.

The main issue with the RoboBee X-Wing is its dependence on the sun. The developers plan to increase the vehicle’s size to get more energy and accumulate it. This will allow the robot to function even in cloudy weather.