Wind-dispersed seeds common among maple trees were a key source of inspiration for the light-controlled robot. Photo: Jianfeng Yang / Tampere University
Researchers at Tampere University in Finland and the University of Pittsburgh in the USA have unveiled a groundbreaking tiny robot that mimics the graceful descent of falling maple seeds. This innovative device has the potential to revolutionize real-time environmental monitoring and sample delivery in hard-to-reach areas such as deserts, mountains, cliffs, and open seas.
At Tampere University, Professor Hao Zeng and Doctoral Researcher Jianfeng Yang, along with their Light Robots research group, have designed polymeric gliding structures inspired by nature.