Tiny robot bee powered by light takes flight

For years, scientists have wanted to create flying robotic vehicles the size of insects. The tricky bit has been building something that can produce enough thrust while still being light enough to fly, without being tethered to an external power source. Now, a group of researchers have hit on a new design. At half the weight of a paper clip, ‘RoboBee X-wing’ has achieved untethered flight using ultra-lightweight solar cells, powering piezoelectric actuators, via a stripped down circuit board. This technology is in its infancy, but could pave the way for a new generation of miniature drones. Researchers hope these insect-bots could manoeuvre around much more cramped spaces than conventional, larger drones, potentially helping with environmental and disaster monitoring.