By Joel Goldberg
Beetles are virtually crash resistant. Their wings flop when they collide with objects and then quickly snap back into place. That helps the insects stay on course and fly straight instead of spiraling toward the ground, while using little energy.
Researchers have now built a winged robot that mimics this capability. The “beetlebot” continues to fly even after crashing into poles, researchers report this month Science. The energy-efficient robot could even navigate narrow environments, such as collapsed buildings, to support rescue missions, the team says.
This video presents the research tests in super slow motion, capturing the aerodynamic design of beetle wings and the flexibility of sturdy flapping wing structures.