114 The global decline of insect populations has sparked alarm across scientific and agricultural communities. With pollinators like bees disappearing at an unprecedented rate and traditional pest control methods proving increasingly unsustainable, some researchers are turning to an unexpected solution—bugbots. Robotic insects may be able to step in to compensate for some of the damage done to natural ecosystems, writes Peter Donaldson. Animal pollinators, particularly insects, play a vital role in agriculture, with an estimated 75% of flowering plants and about 35% of global food crops relying on them, according to the US Department of Agriculture. However, habitat destruction, pesticide overuse, and climate change have caused a steep decline in bee and butterfly populations. This has prompted engineers and biologists to explore artificial solutions, including micro air vehicles (MAVs) as pollinators. Researchers in Japan have developed MAVs equipped with horsehair bristles and a sticky gel that allows them to pick up and deposit pollen, mimicking the work of bees. Projects such as RoboBee developed by Harvard University’s Wyss Institute are pushing the boundaries of miniaturized robotics, aiming to create autonomous flying pollinators. While the concept is promising, engineering challenges remain daunting. One of the biggest of these is power efficiency. Real insects operate on minuscule amounts of energy, while current flapping wing micro air vehicles require significant battery power to stay airborne. Lithium-ion batteries are too bulky and short-lived for tiny pollinator bots. Engineers are investigating alternative energy sources, such as wings that also function as solar panels, wireless energy transfer, and biofuel cells that mimic insect metabolism. Another critical challenge is flight stability and manoeuvrability. Bees and butterflies possess highly sophisticated flight control mechanisms that allow them to hover, dart between flowers, and adapt to wind currents with ease. Most MAV technology struggles to match this level of agility. Advances in biomimetic wing designs, inspired by insect aerodynamics, are helping close this gap, but achieving precise, efficient movement at such a small scale remains a major hurdle. Autonomous navigation and coordination also present significant difficulties. A single bee makes thousands of complex decisions while foraging, responding to environmental cues, and communicating with its colony. Engineers are working on AI-powered swarm algorithms to allow robotic pollinators to operate collaboratively, optimizing their routes and distributing themselves efficiently over crops. However, ensuring robotic insect swarms can function reliably without human intervention is still an ongoing challenge. Some researchers envision biomimetic MAVs that could mimic predatory insects—mechanical dragonflies, for instance, capable of hunting down harmful pests without the ecological downsides of chemical interventions. However, this would require breakthroughs in micro-robotic sensing, decision-making, and target identification. While robotic insects hold exciting potential, they are unlikely to fully replace natural pollinators or predators. Instead, the future of agriculture may involve a hybrid approach, where engineered solutions complement conservation efforts to restore insect populations. Engineering a robotic bee is one thing—engineering an entire artificial ecosystem is another. If MAV pollinators and pest controllers are to become a practical solution, they must be deployed alongside policies that protect and restore natural biodiversity. April/May 2025 | Uncrewed Systems Technology PS | Replacing lost insects Now, here’s a thing Advances in biomimetic wing designs, inspired by insect aerodynamics, are helping close the gap of flight stability and manoeuvrability
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