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New Technique For Mass-Producing Microbots Inspired By Origami

Posted by samzenpus on from the here's-your-fold-bot dept.

Zothecula writes "Inspired by origami and children's pop-up books, Harvard engineers have pioneered a means of mass-producing bee-sized flying microrobots. The breakthrough mechanizes the already state-of-the art process of making Harvard's Mobee robots by hand, by mass producing flat assemblies by the sheet which can be folded and assembled in a single movement. The technique, which cunningly exploits existing machinery for making printed circuit boards, can theoretically be applied to a multitude of electromechanical machines."

3 of 28 comments (clear)

  1. Familiar pattern? by clyde_cadiddlehopper · · Score: 4, Interesting

    This demonstrates low cost mass production. Just add mobility, communication, coordination, and sensing. Drop a swarm of these into any dangerous environment and, voila, instant info. Now, think of GPS surveillance, peeking through walls for IR signatures, drone surveillance aircraft, night vision, ... The first use of microbots will be for military or hazardous waste cleanup or such. But microbots, like their predecessors, will ultimately be used to monitor the general public.

    --
    Obi-Wan: "I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were sudden
  2. One question. by Robert+Zenz · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Does that thing fly? And if yes, how are it's flight characteristics?

  3. Construction Process by Whibla · · Score: 3, Insightful

    An excellent video (and I do not use the term lightly) showing animations and video footage of the assembly of the Mobee...

    echo^^

    Harvard has filed numerous patent applications associated with the process, and is working with business to "identify disruptive applications in a range of industries."

    While I'm sure there will be anti-patent people saying that since the process is "Inspired by origami and children's pop-up books" there's nothing novel or original in it, and prior art should invalidate their patents, for once I'm not sure I agree. I watched the video, and was inspired. Disruptive applications doesn't say the half of it!