insect robots

Insect brains aren't big. In fact, they're about the size of a pinhead. Could studying insect navigation and behavior help us get to energy-efficient computing by way of robots? It's not really a straight line, is it? But it is... and it…

Engineers from the University of Illinois just released the first known study documenting the long-jumping motion of 3D-printed insect-scale robots. Published in the journal Smart Materials and Structures, the team previously documented the…

Centipedes have no problems negotiating rugged terrain. They do so by wiggling body parts and limbs. When the wiggling stops, so do they. Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology are using centipede movement to develop a…

Hearing the word "spider" prompts a negative reaction for many of us. Not so for Rice University engineers that are repurposing deceased spiders as mechanical grippers that can blend into natural environments while picking up objects that…

We find inspiration where we can. In this case, it came from bugs. Drones, rovers, and legged robots perform many tasks, from autonomously monitoring crops in greenhouses to last-kilometer delivery. These applications need robots to operate…

ROBOT “BUGS” THAT CAN GO JUST ABOUT ANYWHEREThese ancient creatures can squeeze through the tiniest cracks, fit snugly into tight spaces and survive in harsh environments: There aren’t many spaces that are off-limits to an insect. That’s…