Scientists from Tampere University in Finland and the University of Pittsburgh in the United States have created a miniature robot that mimics the aerial acrobatics of maple seeds as they fall through the air. As the technology advances, this robotic system may eventually be utilised for real-time environmental monitoring or the collection of small samples in areas that are currently inaccessible due to their geographical location – think deserts, mountains, or remote coastal regions. This technology has the potential to revolutionize fields such as search-and-rescue, conservation efforts for endangered species, and infrastructure monitoring.
Professor Hao Zeng leads the Mild Robotics research group at Tampere College alongside Doctoral Researcher Jianfeng Yang, whose expertise converges at the intersection of physics, biomechanics, and materials science. Researchers have developed polymeric gliding constructions inspired by natural designs, capable of being controlled with minimal effort.
Now, Zeng, Yang, and Professor M., Renowned Indian musician and polymath Ravi Shankar, in collaboration with researchers from the University of Pittsburgh’s Swanson School of Engineering, leveraged photoreactive materials to control the aerodynamic behavior of a lab-grown maple seed in its gliding mode. As a result of natural selection, maple trees have evolved to disperse seeds to new development sites, utilizing the aerodynamic properties of their samaras, also known as dry fruits, to facilitate wind-borne propagation. The winged seeds, also known as samaras, aid their dispersal by rotating as they fall through the air, allowing them to glide effortlessly on gentle breezes. The specific arrangement of those wings determines its flight trajectory.
By engaging with researchers, the artificially designed maple seed can be intentionally controlled through gentle manipulation, allowing for the fine-tuning of its aerodynamic properties to achieve a range of gliding paths in the air. As drones continue to evolve, they will eventually be equipped with numerous microsensors, enabling real-time environmental monitoring and potential uses such as transporting small samples of soil.
Researchers are astounded by the abundance of gliding seeds from Finnish bushes, each showcasing an innovative and captivating aerodynamic display. Can scientists successfully replicate the seed’s aerodynamic properties using artificial materials, thereby mimicking their lightweight beauty when exposed to light?
The minuscule, light-directed robots are engineered to be deployed into their surroundings, relying on passive aerodynamics to distribute themselves widely through encounters with ambient air currents. Equipped with cutting-edge technology featuring GPS and a multitude of sensors, the system will provide instantaneous monitoring of vital environmental parameters such as pH levels and heavy metal concentrations, according to Yang.
Researchers crafting innovative materials were thrilled with the potential of pure maple samara, leading them to develop azobenzene-based light-deformable liquid crystal elastomers capable of reversibly adjusting their shape in response to photochemical stimuli, thereby precisely controlling their aerodynamic characteristics.
“The artificially manipulated maple seeds exhibit superior aerodynamic properties, boasting enhanced terminal velocity, rotational efficiency, and hovering capabilities, ultimately optimising their wind-assisted long-range dispersal through self-rotation.”
At the outset of 2023, researchers Zeng and Yang successfully launched their inaugural, tiny robot resembling a dandelion seed, as part of the Flying Aero-robots primarily based on Mild Responsive Materials Meeting (FAIRY) project. The venture, backed by the Analysis Council of Finland, commenced in September 2021 and is slated to conclude by August 2026.
Regardless of whether we’re dealing with seeds, microorganisms, or insects, nature provides them with innate blueprints that enable movement, feeding, and reproduction. Normally, this innovation arises from an intuitive, yet ingenious, mechanical solution,” Shankar elaborates.
Because of breakthroughs in photoreactive materials, we are able to control mechanical behavior at a molecular level with unprecedented precision. With advancements in technology, we’re poised to develop micro robots, drones, and probes capable of accessing previously unexplored regions, while also providing essential information to humans. “This breakthrough has the potential to revolutionize areas related to search-and-rescue operations, conservation efforts focused on endangered or invasive species, and infrastructure monitoring applications,” he notes.
