It is a fact that the world depends on the pollination of plants made by bees, but what would happen if they disappeared? It seems that there is already a plan. swarms of small flying robots. They would be fast, precise, almost silent and capable of working day and night in vertical farms within large cities.

Weighing less than a paper clip, this new versionthis new version of the MIT robot can stay in the air for 17 minutes, that's 100 times longer than previous versions and it's not just the duration, it can also execute complex aerial stunts such as double turns and fast curves, reaching an average speed of 35 cm per second.

All this thanks to a redesign directly inspired by the anatomy of natural pollinators such as bees, unlike previous versions that used eight wings and ended up affecting their own efficiency by colliding with each other, this new model reduced the number of wings by half and the wings were relocated to avoid airflow interference.

This not only increased the lift force, but also freed up space to include sensors and even internal batteries in the future. With extremely precisely laser-cut microscopic hinges and transmitters that reduce stress on the artificial muscles, the robot achieved unprecedented stability in its category.

These muscles made with carbon nanotube electrodes and elastomers vibrate at very high frequencies that move the wings. With this performance, the old structures would bend and lose power. The new design corrects this problem with sophisticated transmissions that amplify the torque and protect the structure, allowing more powerful and precise movements without rapid wear.

In the long term, these small robots could work as pollinators in greenhouses and vertical farms, where natural bees cannot operate effectively. For the future, Professor Kevin Chen, leader of the project, foresees robberies flying autonomously with sensors and GPS, leaving artificial hives and visiting flower by flower in controlled, high-yield agricultural environments.