Agile Flying Robot Inspired by Bats

Innovation: Academia

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

2017

Image: Clément Falize / Unsplash / CC BY SA - Creative Commons Attribution + ShareAlike

Move in/Through Gases

Living systems must move through gases (which are less dense than liquids and solids) such as those in the earth’s atmosphere. The greatest challenge of moving in gases is that because the living system is heavier than the gas, it must overcome the force of gravity. Moving efficiently in this light medium presents unique challenges and opportunities for living systems. As a result, they have evolved countless solutions to optimize drag and increase lift so that they can stay aloft and take advantage of variable currents. Additionally, they must overcome gravity when moving from a liquid or solid into the air. The fairyfly, the smallest known insect, is a tiny wasp that must move through the air. To the wasp, air feels like a heavy liquid and to move through it, it uses special feathery oars rather than wings.

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Modify Size/Shape/Mass/Volume

Many living systems alter their physical properties, such as size, shape, mass, or volume. These modifications occur in response to the living system’s needs and/or changing environmental conditions. For example, they may do this to move more efficiently, escape predators, recover from damage, or for many other reasons. These modifications require appropriate response rates and levels. Modifying any of these properties requires materials to enable such changes, cues to make the changes, and mechanisms to control them. An example is the porcupine fish, which protects itself from predators by taking sips of water or air to inflate its body and to erect spines embedded in its skin.

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Flying robot from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has articulated, morphing wings that enable intricate movement.

Benefits

Agile
Autonomous
Dynamic

Applications

Robotics
Aviation
Surveillance
Aerospace

UN Sustainable Development Goals Addressed

Goal 9: Industry Innovation & Infrastructure

The Challenge

Robots are made of many components: a physical body, energy storage, a variety of sensors, and more. All these parts work together to perform the functions the robot was designed for. Unfortunately, these components are often heavy and bulky. The added weight can cause flying robots to be unable to maintain long flights and increase the risk of running out of power mid-flight.

Innovation Details

The flying robot, also called Bat Bot (B2), is a self-contained robot with soft, articulated wings that allow for autonomous movement. The wings easily change shape during flight without affecting the aerodynamics due to their flexible construction material along with a multitude of active and passive joints. As a result of the unique wing structure, the robot is able to move consistently and efficiently.

Biomimicry Story

Bats use their agility to evade predators and capture prey. Their wings haves more than 40 types of joints that interlock the muscles and bones into a musculoskeletal system that aids its unique flight mechanism. Their wings act like flexible, rubber sheets that fill with air and deform mid-flight while their joints coordinate consistent aerodynamics.

See Related Content

a light brown hairy bat with dark brown wings on a tree

Biological Strategy

Hairs Help Flight Maneuverability

Big brown bat

Tactile hairs in wing membranes of bats serve as flight control organs by providing immediate sensorimotor feedback.

References

Journal article

A biomimetic robotic platform to study flight specializations of bats

Science Robotics

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