New Technique For Mass-Producing Microbots Inspired By Origami

Zothecula writes "Inspired by origami and children's pop-up books, Harvard engineers have pioneered a means of mass-producing bee-sized flying microrobots. The breakthrough mechanizes the already state-of-the art process of making Harvard's Mobee robots by hand, by mass producing flat assemblies by the sheet which can be folded and assembled in a single movement. The technique, which cunningly exploits existing machinery for making printed circuit boards, can theoretically be applied to a multitude of electromechanical machines."

Familiar pattern?

[clyde_cadiddlehopper]

This demonstrates low cost mass production. Just add mobility, communication, coordination, and sensing. Drop a swarm of these into any dangerous environment and, voila, instant info. Now, think of GPS surveillance, peeking through walls for IR signatures, drone surveillance aircraft, night vision, ... The first use of microbots will be for military or hazardous waste cleanup or such. But microbots, like their predecessors, will ultimately be used to monitor the general public.

One question.

[Robert Zenz]

Does that thing fly? And if yes, how are it's flight characteristics?