Ideas
Explore the world's #1 largest database of ideas and innovations, with 462,330 inspiring examples.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,242 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 320,986 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Consumer Insights
Uncover major shifts and emerging opportunities with our exclusive PRO research.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,242 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 320,986 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Trend Reports
Get fast, customized trend reports, presentations and deep dives 20x faster than traditional research.
Plans
Get started today with a free consultation, our self-serve tools, or a dedicated program.
Articles & Magazine
Get inspired with our 4,213 innovation strategy articles, keynote, videos and innovation tools.
Innovation Awards
Trend Hunter’s Innovation Strategy Awards recognize the best innovation tactics gathered from our interviews with some of the world's most notable business leaders, authors and change makers.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Innovation Assessment
Enhance your innovation potential with a deeper understanding of your unique innovation archetype and how your organization benchmarks.
FuturistU
Prepare for the years ahead with 100+ lessons, tactics, tools and frameworks with our full learning database.
Innovation Books
Join 20,000,000 people getting better and faster with our New York Times Bestselling books and keynote videos.
Jeremy Gutsche
Ignite your event or virtual event with our CEO, a NY Times Bestselling Author and one of the top innovation keynote speakers.
Our Team of Speakers & Virtual Presenters
Inspire your group with our most popular speakers on innovation, trends, change and futurism.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Custom Masterclasses
Join the world's leading brands who leverage our custom programs to accelerate innovation.
FuturistU 5-Day Program
Become a Futurist with our immersive 5-Day program at Future Festival World Summit.
Online eLearning
Learn the fundamentals of futurism and trends with 100+ online courses about innovation.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Contact
Get in touch to learn more, ask a question or submit a tip.
About Us
Learn more about Trend Hunter and how we accelerate innovation.
Follow-Us
Join our 3,500,000 social media followers, on the cutting edge.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
FAQ
Get answers to common questions about Trend Hunter.
Community
Stay on the cutting-edge with the help of the Trend Hunter community.
Team
Meet the team trusted by hundreds of leading businesses worldwide.
Jobs
Find opportunities to accelerate your career with the #1 Trend Firm.
News
Catch up on noteworthy Trend Hunter news and media mentions.
Join
Build a portfolio and put your trend-spotting abilities to the test.
Advertising
Supercharge your marketing by partnering with Trend Hunter.
Portfolio
Visit your public portfolio and browse your past articles.
Add a Trend
Write up an article and showcase your trend-spotting skills.
My Trends
Edit your articles and see how they stack up on the leaderboards.
Settings
Edit your profile, connect your social media accounts, and more.
Add a trend, customize your dashboard, or track topics.
Future Festival
Innovation Events
Join the world's top innovators at our in person events.
Free Webinars
Learn to innovate through chaos, navigate the new normal and maintain work culture from home.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Search our database of 462,330 cutting edge ideas.

Insect Based Robots

The Next Generation of Bots

— February 15, 2007 — Tech
When we talk about robots suddenly we connect to human looking machines, but it seems future will bring us something different. And it makes a lot of sense, if insects are everywhere and reach every place... "why not making robots based on insects?" This is an example, a small dragonfly (only 6cm long, about 2,5 inches) created by the French company SilMax, and thought to fly and explore areas that are difficult to reach or maybe too dangerous. A little spy in few words.

This little thing is a product of high nano-technology, with 180000 nano-muscles, has 2 small mini-engines and all in just 20mg. It has a brain and can collect and send information, that's the reason for the interest of the French Deffense Ministry. This is the trend, and looks fascinating. Small and fast machines able to move and explore, it's difficult not to think in the hundreds of uses it may be apropriate for. Let's hope this and other similar ones in development are used for real useful things and not just military actions.

If you like this, you might like our video of the flying dragonfly robot.
Trend Themes
1. Insect-based Robots - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Creating small and fast machines that can move and explore difficult-to-reach areas.
2. Nano-technology - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Developing high nano-technology to create tiny robots with advanced capabilities.
3. Military Robotics - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Utilizing insect-based robots for military actions and surveillance.
Industry Implications
1. Robotics - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Incorporating insect-based technology into the robotics industry for versatile and agile robots.
2. Defense - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Collaborating with the defense industry to apply insect-based robotic technology for reconnaissance missions.
3. Nano-technology - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Advancing nano-technology applications in various industries, including robotics.
2.7
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness