The buzz about insect robots
Further reading
November/December 2006, page 12
PM recognises insect intelligence
Reports on the prize-winning science on bee navigation.
November/December 2004, pages 14-17
iRobot (by Julian Cribb)
Insects are providing the inspiration for the latest generation of tiny autonomous robots.
June-July 2003, pages 22-24
Bug-eyed robots (by Tony Hyland)
Discusses the findings of research into insect vision and the potential for applications in space exploration.
21 November 2009, pages 50-53
Medibots: The world’s smallest surgeons (by Gaia Vince and Clare Wilson)
Covers a range of mini robotic surgery technologies.
21 June 2008, page 19
Corrugated wings help dragonflies cut drag on flying
Reports on a study showing that pleats in wings provide lift and strength.
6 March 2008, pages 40-43
The cyborg animal spies hatching in the lab (by Jessica Marshall)
Describes the use of cyborg animals
18 April 2007, page 26
Creepy – crawly robot to mend a broken heart (Tom Simonite)
Describes a robotic caterpillar that could one day be used inside humans to deliver drugs or other treatments.
11 April 2007, pages 26-27
Float like a butterfly (by Paul Marks)
Reports on recent developments in wing mechanics and control systems to build micro-aircraft that mimic the flight characteristics of insects.
24 January 2007
'Sniffer-bot' algorithm helps robots seek scents (by Mason Inman)
Reports that robots may be able to navigate towards very faint smells.
21 October 2006, page
Robot swarm works together to shift heavy objects (by Tom Simonite)
Describes some simple robots that must swarm to move an object that is too heavy to move alone.
21 September 2006
Virtual bees help robots see in 3D (by Tom Simonite)
Reports on new computer vision software based on the reporting system of bees.
9 May 2006
Robo-roach could betray real cockroaches (by Tom Simonite)
Describes a robotic cockroach that influences the behaviour of real cockroaches.
25 August 2001, pages 38-42
Electric eye (by Douglas Fox)
Describes how research into vision and other insect characteristics are being used to develop a robotic aircraft.
27 April 2006
Insects inspire artificial eyes (by Belle Dume)
Scientists in the US have made the first artificial eye using 3D polymer structures.
23 March 2009
Natural born automatons: next-gen robots take cues from biology (by Nikhil Swaminathan)
Describes the development of robots based on living things including the Jollbot that can bounce like a grasshopper.
November 2003, pages 42-47
An army of small robots (by Robert Grabowski, Luis E. Navarro-Serment and Pradeep K. Khosla)
Describes how engineers are exploring the versatile potential of small robots that operate in teams. Some of the robots are modelled on insects such as ants, cockroaches and caterpillars.
October 2003, pages 34-41
Artificial muscles (by Steven Ashley)
Describes how electroactive polymers (EAPs), plastics that move in response to electricity, work and how they are being used in robotic applications.
November 2002, page 16
Bug blast (by Charles Choi)
Looks at how modelling cockroach legs is being used to help robots keep their balance.
Scientriffic
January/February 2010, pages 14-17
Minibots (by Heather Catchpole)
Takes a look at miniature robots and some of their uses.
March 2009
Dragonflies inspire aircraft design
Describes the use of dragonflies as a model for building small flying robots or MAVs.
Page updated March 2010.