Robotic Insects: Revolutionizing the Future of Plant Pollination

Kazi Abul Monsur, Journalist#

Researchers have created tiny robotic insects capable of completing the pollination process of plants. These advanced robotic insects will serve as an alternative to natural pollination. They are essentially small drone-like devices that can collect pollen from flowers and distribute it accurately. To perform pollination, the robots are equipped with advanced sensors and software that allow them to position themselves precisely on flowers, collect pollen dust, and transport it to other flowers.
According to researchers, environmental pollution, excessive pesticide use, and the decline in the number of natural pollinating insects are creating barriers to plant pollination. These robots can play a crucial role in solving this problem.

Since the end of World War II, despite the United States’ imperialist and destructive war policies earning global infamy, the country’s contributions to science and technological advancements over the centuries cannot be overlooked. Particularly noteworthy are the high-level educational systems and research labs established in the U.S., with investments in the billions of dollars.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) stands as one of the world’s leading educational institutions and has become a lighthouse for global scientific and technological development. Currently, a team of researchers at MIT is working on tiny robotic insects that can pollinate flowers by flying from one to another, just like real insects.

These flying micro-robotic insects, designed to flap their wings like birds or insects, measure 4 cm in length, 0.9 cm in height, and weigh just 750 milligrams. The robots have four wing-like flaps attached to them, which allow them to fly. The micro-robot has already managed to fly for up to 1,000 seconds, a feat 100 times longer than previous tested versions.

The robotic insect is lighter than a paperclip and can fly at speeds of 0.35 meters per second. Moreover, it can perform acrobatic maneuvers like double aerial flips, making it much faster than other similar flying robots. It is designed to carry up to 500 milligrams of weight. Additionally, small high-power imaging sensors or cameras will be installed in the future.

In essence, the team of researchers is creating a new era with the development of small, high-tech AI robotic insects capable of pollination, resembling bees. It is possible that, in the future, environmental pollution and natural or human-induced disasters may lead to the extinction of many birds and insects, significantly disrupting plant pollination, reproduction, and crop production.

Although these robotic insects are currently in the experimental or prototype phase, they may play a crucial role in ensuring food security for humanity and effective plant pollination in the near future. Additionally, they could offer significant opportunities for farming in multi-level indoor farms, which could help increase crop yields and reduce the environmental impact of agriculture.##