TECH NEWS – In January 2025, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) unveiled their latest development, insect-sized microrobots, which could revolutionize the world of mechanical pollination. This groundbreaking technology far surpasses the capabilities of previous generations, as it provides longer flight times, unparalleled agility, and extreme precision. The development could be a promising solution to overcome modern challenges facing agriculture and ecology while opening up new horizons in the field of sustainable food production.

The new generation of microrobots has an advanced design compared to previous versions: they have twice as many wings, which are arranged in an innovative arrangement. These wings point outward from the center of the robot, thus providing stability and greater buoyancy. Their movement is controlled by artificial muscles, which can generate sufficient mechanical force for wing flaps by rapidly contracting and stretching.
The robots are incredibly small, measuring just a few millimeters, which gives them a special advantage. This tiny size allows them to easily reach hard-to-reach places, such as the inside of flowers, where they can perform precise pollination work.

Longer flight time and greater efficiency

The new generation of robots is showing impressive progress, being able to fly for more than a hundred times longer than their predecessors. This remarkable increase in performance is largely due to the careful fine-tuning of the gears, which effectively reduce mechanical stress, thereby significantly extending their operating time. The robots are not only distinguished by their exceptional energy efficiency, but also by their amazing precision. They are capable of performing complex aerial maneuvers, such as elegant double aerial turns, which ensure that the areas to be pollinated are reached with extreme precision, contributing to efficient and targeted pollination.
This tiny robotic insect, lighter than a paper clip, is not only capable of extremely fast flight, but also performs impressive acrobatic maneuvers.

The possibilities of mechanical pollination

Microrobots are specifically designed for mechanical pollination. In industrial agriculture, huge quantities of fruits and vegetables must be pollinated each year, which is becoming increasingly challenging due to the declining population of pollinating insects. These robots can help replace natural pollination while providing the opportunity to use multi-story, closed agricultural facilities.

Further development plans

The researchers are working on ambitious development plans to enable these microrobots to fly for even longer periods of time, up to more than 10,000 seconds. They also aim to further increase the precision of the robots so that they can take off and land accurately on flower petals.
Future plans include integrating miniature batteries and sensors that will allow the robots to operate outside of the laboratory environment. These developments will facilitate autonomous navigation and more efficient pollination tasks in the field.

Source: Bytech