Flight Demonstration of an Ultra-Lightweight Insect-Scale Robot Featuring an Integrated Battery

A study conducted by Takashi Ozaki et.al. was selected for the presentation at the 2024 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA).

Traditional small flying robots often become too heavy when equipped with high-output batteries, which compromise their ability to fly.
Our research addresses this challenge by designing a high-efficiency drive circuit that incorporates piezoelectric actuators, resulting in considerable weight reduction. Consequently, the robot achieved sufficient thrust with low-output, lightweight batteries. The newly developed flying robot, featuring eight flapping wings and weighing only 2.1 g, can sustain a thrust exceeding 1.5 times its own weight for more than 5 min. It is also equipped with postural sensors and wireless communication, paving the way for future breakthroughs in flight control. This major step toward advancement in insect-scale robotics opens new possibilities for applications such as exploration and environmental monitoring in confined spaces.

Title: Takeoff of a 2.1g Fully Untethered Tailless Flapping-Wing Micro Aerial Vehicle with Integrated Battery
Authors: Ozaki, T., Ohta, N., Jimbo, T., Hamaguchi, K.
Appears in: IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation
Presented: May 14, 2024