Big robots, like , as a rule, no special problems with battery power. Due to the large size they can be install bulk power supplies, but tiny robotic insects to put them is impossible. This is the main drawback of miniature mechanisms, although they can be useful for discreet exploration areas and other tasks, which can not cope with large robots. However, Chinese scientists recently managed to create a mechanism that flaps her wings when exposed to sunlight. It turns out that wings are equipped with robotic insects can work without batteries — most importantly, that the sun was shining.
The new invention Of Chinese scientists was described in a scientific journal . The creators of a new wing for the tiny robots are Professor Ninghui yuan and Czernin Dean. Their development they are called Flexible Bio-Butterfly Wing (FBBW), which can be translated as "flexible wings of a butterfly". The researchers initially understood that the main disadvantage of small robots that can fly, is a short time of their work due to too tiny power sources. In an effort to create the technology that allows these robots to operate without batteries, they found a very original solution to the problem.
Created wings bent and unbent under the sun
Invented by Chinese engineers wings are made of a polymer film, the upper part of which is covered with tiny metallic crystals. Under sunlight, the particles heat up metal polymer film and cause it to expand. Subsequently, the wing is twisted and the upper part with metal particles is in the shade and the material almost instantly cools down. When the temperature drops, the wing takes the original form, again allowing sunlight to warm the surface and cause a new flap.
As you can see, the technology is simple and in his own genius. Changing the settings of the wings, engineers were able to achieve the frequency of strokes, equal to 4.5 Hz. This is more than the frequency of the strokes of real butterflies. According to the researchers, with the help of these wings now you can create a small floating machine and a generator, which produces electricity from the flapping of the "solar wings". Looks like the work of these devices, shown in the video below.
Unfortunately, at the moment fitted with the new wings of the robotic insect does not exist. But most likely, in the near future they will be used for the creation of such mechanisms. The production of robots of this type deals with the company Festo, which a few years ago. Among their engineering is the robotic butterfly, which the wings just would not hurt.
But the "solar wings", of course, there are drawbacks. For example, robots equipped with them will not be able to work in rainy conditions, in fog and at night. But scientists claim that to make them move, and using the simulated sunlight. The most important thing for their work is not just the sunlight and the warm rays that fall at a certain angle.
Thanks to the new wings, robotic insects will be able to work all day
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