Drawing inspiration from the humble bee, robotics researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed insect-sized aerial robots with a redesigned wing system, enabling them to fly for up to 1,000 seconds—100 times longer than any comparable bots to date.

Weighing less than a gram, these bots are equipped with flapping wings that enable not only extended flight durations but also exceptional agility—allowing them to perform somersaults and trace infinity symbols in the air. With an average speed of 11.8 inches per second (30 cm/s), they even outpace fruit flies.

Figure 1.MIT’s insect-sized robots fly 100 times longer with enhanced wing design.

These tiny robots are a game-changer, potentially providing a precise method for artificial pollination in multilevel warehouses. This breakthrough could enable large-scale indoor cultivation of fruits and vegetables, reducing reliance on vast farmlands. Figure 1 shows MIT’s insect-sized robots fly 100 times longer with enhanced wing design.

They could also augment the critical task of pollination usually handled by bees, which have been dying by the millions and even billions around the world over the last few years, due to the harsh effects of pesticides and habitat loss [1]. A recent survey conducted this year saw more than 200 commercial beekeepers in the US report average losses of their bee populations exceeding 50%, with an estimated financial impact of over US$139 million.

So how do you build a better bee-bot? Previous designs featured eight wings in sets of two. As it turns out, the arrangement of these wings caused them to blow air into each other when they flapped, reducing their lift force.

The research team's updated approach reduces the number of wings from eight to four. That not only stabilizes them and improves their ability to lift the sub-gram bot off the ground, but also makes room for additional electronic components.

They could also augment the critical task of pollination usually handled by bees, which have been dying by the millions and even billions around the world over the last few years, due to the harsh effects of pesticides and habitat loss. A recent survey conducted this year saw more than 200 commercial beekeepers in the US report average losses of their bee populations exceeding 50%, with an estimated financial impact of over US$139 million. So, how do you build a better bee-bot? Previous designs used eight wings arranged in sets of two, but this setup caused airflow interference, reducing lift efficiency.

The research team’s new approach cuts the number of wings from eight to four. This not only enhances stability and improves the bot’s ability to lift off the ground but also frees up space for additional electronic components.

The wings are powered by precisely assembled actuators that function as artificial muscles, generating the energy needed for flapping.

These soft actuators consist of elastomer layers sandwiched between thin carbon nanotube electrodes, rolled into a cylinder to mimic muscle movement. As they rapidly compress and elongate, they produce mechanical force, causing the wings to flap.

Each bot fits within a compact 1.575-inch square area and features just four wings—an improvement over previous microbot designs that relied on eight.

These improvements enable the microbots to fly for up to 17 minutes per flight—far longer than previous designs—while achieving greater speeds and executing complex maneuvers like body rolls and double flips. This enhanced agility allows them to efficiently follow predetermined flight paths with precision.

The researchers see even greater potential for these tiny flying machines. Future improvements could extend flight time to 10,000 seconds, integrate batteries and sensors into the freed-up space, and refine flight precision to enable controlled landings and takeoffs from the center of a flower [2]. These advancements could open the door to real-world applications, such as mechanical pollination in vertical farms.

Reference

1. https://newatlas.com/robotics/mit-insect-sized-flying-bots-redesign/
2. https://news.mit.edu/2025/fast-agile-robotic-insect-could-someday-aid-mechanical-pollination-0115

Cite this article:

Keerthana S (2025), MIT's insect-sized robots achieve 100 times longer flight duration with redesigned wings, AnaTechmaz,pp.131