Researchers from the Light Robots group at Tampere University are working on a project called “FAIRY”. This project aims to make smart material fly. The team, led by Hao Zeng and Jianfeng Yang, have developed a polymer-assembly robot that is controlled by light and flies by the wind. Here are the details…
A fairy-like robot flies by the power of wind and light
The artificial fairy, which resembles a dandelion seed, is equipped with a soft actuator made of light-responsive liquid crystalline elastomer. Light can be used to change the shape of the robot and control its take-off and landing actions. The researchers will next focus on improving the material sensitivity to allow operation in sunlight, and up-scaling the structure to carry micro-electronic devices, sensors and biochemical compounds.
The potential applications of the robot are significant, including artificial pollination, where millions of artificial seeds could be dispersed by natural winds and then steered towards specific areas using light. The FAIRY project, which started in September 2021, has a duration of five years and is being researched in cooperation with the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems in Germany and Aalto University.
While the concept of an artificial fairy controlled by light and wind is promising, several challenges remain to be solved, such as precise control of landing spot, reusability and biodegradability. Close collaboration with materials scientists and those working in microrobotics will be necessary to address these issues. Next, the researchers will focus on improving the material sensitivity to enable the operation of the device in sunlight. In addition, they will up-scale the structure so that it can carry micro-electronic devices such as GPS and sensors as well as biochemical compounds.
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