Introduction
A research team in China has achieved a breakthrough in bionic “insect” micro-power technology.
In scenarios such as post-disaster rescue and maintenance of large mechanical equipment, bionic robotic “insects” have great potential, and the industry has been searching for suitable efficient power systems.The research team from Beihang University has successfully achieved a new breakthrough in micro-power technology and developed a bionic “insect” based on this, enabling a 2-centimeter-sized robot to crawl with controllable movement.The related results were recently published in the international academic journal “Nature Communications”.
The image shows the micro robotic “insect” developed by the Beihang research team. (Photo provided by the interviewee)
Amidst a pile of small stones, this four-legged robotic “insect” moves agilely and weaves through obstacles, resembling a beetle. Yan Xiaojun, a professor at Beihang University’s School of Energy and Power Engineering and co-corresponding author of the article, introduced that this robotic “insect” is 2 centimeters long, 1 centimeter wide, and weighs 1.76 grams, with a vertical projection area only the size of two fingernails, featuring rapid maneuverability, high load capacity, and wireless control.
Despite its small size, it is fully equipped. Among them, the power system is the “heart” of the robot. Ordinary robots are usually driven by electric motors, which have high energy supply requirements, while micro robots do not have enough internal space to carry large-capacity batteries and need to be connected to external power lines for continuous power supply, thus limiting their free movement. After years of research, the Beihang research team developed a new type of power system based on linear drive and flexible hinge transmission, allowing the micro robot to successfully break free from motors and external power lines.
The image shows the crawling animation of the micro robotic “insect” developed by the Beihang research team. (Photo provided by the interviewee)
“Inside the robotic ‘insect’, we have implanted energy, control, communication, and sensing systems. The linear actuator converts the electrical energy input from the small battery ‘inside’ into mechanical energy and outputs mechanical vibrations; the flexible hinge transmission mechanism converts the mechanical vibrations into periodic vibrations of the robot’s legs, thereby driving the entire body to achieve high-frequency jumping motion,” said Liu Zhiwei, an assistant professor at Beihang and a team member. “In simple terms, the ‘internal’ micro battery completes the conversion of electrical energy into magnetic energy, causing a nearby magnet to vibrate, which then drives the leg joints to move.”
Beihang doctoral student and team member Zhan Wencheng introduced that the research team also designed a bionic running gait, achieving rapid crawling under high load through adaptive adjustment of the robot’s step frequency and stride; they proposed a control method based on the frequency difference of the robotic ‘insect’s’ legs to achieve precise control of the movement trajectory.
Yan Xiaojun stated that the successful development of this micro-power technology is expected to promote the large-scale development and application of micro robots, aiding in post-disaster search and rescue, as well as damage detection of large mechanical equipment and infrastructure.
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The article source: Xinhua News Agency
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