Friday, April 9, 2021
  • About us
    • Write for us
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms of use
    • Privacy Policy
  • RSS Feeds
  • Advertise with us
  • Contact us
DefenceTalk
  • Home
  • Defense News
    • Defense & Geopolitics News
    • War Conflicts News
    • Army News
    • Air Force News
    • Navy News
    • Missiles Systems News
    • Nuclear Weapons
    • Defense Technology
    • Cybersecurity News
  • Military Photos
  • Defense Forum
  • Military Videos
  • Military Weapon Systems
    • Weapon Systems
    • Reports
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Defense News
    • Defense & Geopolitics News
    • War Conflicts News
    • Army News
    • Air Force News
    • Navy News
    • Missiles Systems News
    • Nuclear Weapons
    • Defense Technology
    • Cybersecurity News
  • Military Photos
  • Defense Forum
  • Military Videos
  • Military Weapon Systems
    • Weapon Systems
    • Reports
No Result
View All Result
DefenceTalk
No Result
View All Result

US Army developing robotic insects?

by Army News Service
December 19, 2014
in Technology News
3 min read
0
US Army developing robotic insects?
36
VIEWS

A mechanical fly buzzing into an enemy operations center for surveillance may still be the stuff of science fiction, but perhaps not for long.

Dr. Ron Polcawich and his team at the Army Research Laboratory, known as ARL, in Adelphi, Maryland, have been pushing innovation in the area of tiny actuators and developed a pair of tiny robotic wings measuring only 3 to 5 centimeters in length.

The wings are made of lead zirconium titanate, referred to as PZT, a material that creates electric charge under an applied pressure or can create strain (i.e. motion) under an applied voltage or electric field. The wings bend and flap when voltage is applied to the PZT material.

“We demonstrated that we can actually create lift,” Polcawich said. “So we know this structure has the potential to fly.”

Polcawich heads up the piezoelectric microelectromechanical systems, or PiezoMEMS team, at ARL. They have designed ultrasonic motors that measure only 2 to 3 millimeters in diameter.

They have also designed sets of tiny robotic legs for a millipede-like robot that simulate crawling when voltage is applied to the PZT material.

While the legs and wings are currently functional, Polcawich says it may take another 10 to 15 years of research and development to actually produce fully-functional robotic insects.

For instance, algorithms are needed to simulate how a flying insect stabilizes itself, he said. In a gust of wind a fly “doesn’t instantaneously stabilize itself,” Polcawich said. “It will tumble, tumble, and then stabilize itself.”

Creating this type of artificial intelligence or “cognitive ability” will take time, he explained. A number of different systems must be integrated in order to develop a realistic tiny robot that functions like an insect.

Harvard University’s Ron Wood is actually further along in developing a robotic fly, Polcawich said. But Harvard’s “RoboFly” is almost three times larger than the one ARL is working to develop. And the smaller a mechanical device, the more intricate are the aerodynamic problems.

Nevertheless, Polcawich says more collaboration with Wood and other academic and industrial researchers might speed up the research.

Such collaboration is the goal of a pilot program launched this year by ARL called “Open Campus.” The program aims to cut red tape and open unclassified areas of ARL to more academic and industry partners.

“The Open Campus effort will hopefully streamline the creative process,” Polcawich said. He hopes it brings additional cooperative agreements with universities and private companies.

While micro robotics research is interesting, Polcawich said it does not enjoy the highest level of funding. In fact, he said it has the lowest level of funding among projects currently being researched by his team. Many of the team’s other projects rank higher in priority.

One of those projects involves precision microelectromechanical systems gyroscopes that are currently undergoing test and evaluation. The gyroscopes might eventually be used to aid in the navigation of missiles, munitions, or even dismounted Soldiers if GPS goes down for any reason, Polcawich said.

His team has undertaken a number of research projects dealing with position, navigation and timing, known as PNT. In some of the projects, inertial measurement units, or IMUs, report a device’s velocity and orientation using a combination of gyroscopes, accelerometers and magnetometers.

“We’re looking at possibly putting IMUs on boots,”Polcawich said, for individual Soldier navigation.

“Our focus in the IMU world is really kind of figuring out how to make things small, lightweight, low-power-consuming; ultimately for Soldier navigation and small-scale robotics.”

His PiezoMEMS team of 10 researchers are also currently focusing on developing components for:

  • — tactical radios
  • — radars
  • — IED-defeat systems
  • — PNT

Earlier this year, President Obama recognized Polcawich for his last five years of research and development. The Presidential Early Career Award for Science and Engineering was awarded to him.

Polcawich said he just enjoys being able to “push the state of the art” in micro fabrication.

Tags: Army & Security Forces Newsrobotic insectsroboticsrobotsus army
Previous Post

India clears $700 million defence purchase

Next Post

Separatists kill at least 34 in northeast India: police

Related Posts

If US DoD Wants #ArtificialIntelligence In Its Future, It Must Start Now

If US DoD Wants #ArtificialIntelligence In Its Future, It Must Start Now

March 23, 2021

ow is the time for decision makers, commanders and policymakers within the Defense Department to get on board with fully...

Advancement creates nanosized, foldable robots

Advancement creates nanosized, foldable robots

March 22, 2021

US Army-funded researchers created nanosized robots that could enable locomotion, novel metamaterial design and high-fidelity sensors. Cornell University researchers created...

Next Post
Separatists kill at least 34 in northeast India: police

Separatists kill at least 34 in northeast India: police

Latest Defense News

F-15EX Eagle II unveiled as newest fighter

F-15EX Eagle II unveiled as newest fighter

April 8, 2021
Biden to announce anti-gun violence measures

Biden to announce anti-gun violence measures

April 8, 2021
China’s air force seeks aircraft-mounted laser weapon

US warns China over Philippines, Taiwan moves

April 8, 2021
China’s New-Gen Fighter Jet Scheduled to Make Maiden Flight In 2021

Taiwan blasts ‘self-defeating’ China fighter jet incursions

April 8, 2021
If US DoD Wants #ArtificialIntelligence In Its Future, It Must Start Now

If US DoD Wants #ArtificialIntelligence In Its Future, It Must Start Now

March 23, 2021
Two Venezuelan soldiers dead in clashes with Colombian ‘insurgents’

Two Venezuelan soldiers dead in clashes with Colombian ‘insurgents’

March 23, 2021

Defense Forum Discussions

  • South China Sea thoughts?
  • Japan, Koreas, China and Taiwan regional issues
  • S.Korea, Indonesia to develop 4.5 gen fighter aircraft KFX
  • Indonesia: 'green water navy'
  • Indonesian Aero News
  • Russian Navy Discussions and Updates
  • Warbirds (Historical, Veteran & Vintage Military Aircraft)
  • British Army News and Discussion
  • The Ukrainian Donbass War Thread
  • Royal New Zealand Air Force
DefenceTalk

© 2003-2020 DefenceTalk.com

Navigate Site

  • Defence Forum
  • Military Photos
  • RSS Feeds
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Contact us

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Defense News
    • Defense & Geopolitics News
    • War Conflicts News
    • Army News
    • Air Force News
    • Navy News
    • Missiles Systems News
    • Nuclear Weapons
    • Defense Technology
    • Cybersecurity News
  • Military Photos
  • Defense Forum
  • Military Videos
  • Military Weapon Systems
    • Weapon Systems
    • Reports

© 2003-2020 DefenceTalk.com