With the incredible popularity of drones, flying robots are hardly anything new, but the 'Bat Bot' nonetheless expands the possibilities for what aerial robots are capable of. Rather than simply flying, the Bat Bot flies by mimicking the key flight mechanisms of a bat, giving it the potential to offer unrivaled agility with significantly less energy.
The Bat Bot was developed by researchers at Caltech and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It weighs just 93 grams despite having an approximately one-foot long wingspan. It is able to achieve such a low weight thanks to its soft, stretchy wing membrane and its impressively designed articulations. While living bats have over 40 joints in their wings, Bat Bot has just nine.
Flying Robotic Bats
Researcher at Caltech and the University of Illinois Developed the 'Bat Bot'
Trend Themes
1. Bioinspired Flying Robots - The development of robots based on natural flight mechanisms has disruptive potential in the field of aerial robotics.
2. Agile Aerial Robotics - The Bat Bot's design presents an opportunity to create smoother, more agile aerial robots with increased efficiency.
3. Lightweight Robotics - The Bat Bot's impressive weight-to-size ratio could revolutionize robotics by enabling the creation of lightweight robots with improved performance capabilities.
Industry Implications
1. Aerospace - Bioinspired flight technologies have the potential to enhance aerial vehicles for military, commercial, and recreational purposes.
2. Robotics - The Bat Bot's design can provide inspiration for the development of new and improved robot designs in various industries, including healthcare and manufacturing.
3. Engineering - The Bat Bot's articulation technology has the potential to revolutionize the development of lightweight, flexible robotics for a wide range of engineering applications.