GrrlScientist is an evolutionary biologist, ornithologist, aviculturist, birder and freelance science and nature writer. A native of the Pacific Northwest, she relocated from Seattle to NYC with her parrots after earning a BS in Microbiology (emphasis in Virology) and PhD in Zoology (Ornithology) from the University of Washington. In NYC, she was the Chapman Postdoctoral Fellow at the American Museum of Natural History for two years, pursuing part of her "dream" research project by reconstructing a molecular phylogeny of the parrots of the South Pacific islands. GrrlScientist and her five parrots are currently relocating to Germany, where she will continue writing her blog while also writing a book and learning German. (Meanwhile, her parrots will continue to nibble on her extensive personal library.) If you appreciate GrrlScientist's writing, you can help pay her living expenses by hiring her to "blog" your conference, speak at your club or write articles for your publication (or by clicking on the Paypal button below). If you read an essay on this blog that you especially enjoyed, please nominate it for inclusion in 
tags: robofly, microrobotic fly, engineering, biobot, nanotechnology, streaming video
Robotics researchers have long been envious of flying insects, many of which are able to perform all sorts of spectacular acrobatics despite their small wings and smaller brains. Researchers at Harvard University created a robotic fly the size of a penny that is actually able to fly using a wing structure and motions based on a fly. The robofly weighs 60 milligrams (the equivalent of a few grains of rice), and beats its 1.5cm wings 120 (!) times per second. Most impressively, the actuating composite motor that powers the wings is 5 times more powerful for its weight than the muscles of a real fly. [2:53]
Physical Science
Life Science
Comments
Now it just needs camera eyes and we can have a "fly on the wall" bugging system.
Posted by: Chris' Wills | January 3, 2008 10:11 AM
Amazing! I think a lot of the R and D that went into this is going to find it's way into a lot of other future developments!
Dave Briggs :~)
Posted by: Dave Briggs | January 3, 2008 11:52 AM
This type of microrobotic technology might have applications in artificial limbs. Its one-third of the technology needed to make replacement limbs as capable as the real thing, alongside a better interface and a denser energy store.
Posted by: Suricou Raven | January 4, 2008 3:27 AM
If they compress the software that controls this robot will that be zipping the fly?
Posted by: Ian | January 4, 2008 7:30 AM