Robotics Engineers Work to 'Bee' Part of the Climate Change Solution
Introduction
The impact of climate change is becoming increasingly evident, with recent extreme weather events serving as stark reminders of its reality. However, there is another less visible yet critical consequence of climate change—the ongoing decline of global bee populations. Bees, both commercially managed honeybees and wild native bees, play a pivotal role in the pollination of many crops. Approximately one-third of the food we consume relies on pollinators, emphasizing the significant effect of pollinator health on our lives. Alarmingly, nearly 35% of insect pollinator populations worldwide face the risk of extinction, and over half of North American native bee species are declining due to various factors, including pesticide use, habitat loss, climate change, and intensive farming practices.
The Robo Bee Solution
Nitin Sanket, an assistant professor in the Department of Robotics Engineering at WPI, is taking a unique approach to address this challenge. While many conservationists are working to protect bees, Sanket believes that given the rapidly changing climate, alternative solutions are essential. He is exploring the development of an autonomous flying robot, often referred to as a "robo bee," to assist with pollination.
The current robo bee prototype is a small 3D-printed black plastic cube equipped with four 2.5-inch propellers, a powerful camera, and a rechargeable lithium battery. Although the existing model is about the size of a hummingbird, weighing 200 grams (about 100 times more than a hummingbird), it can navigate obstacles, fly for 5 to 7 minutes (depending on the battery and movements), and autonomously transfer pollen from various plants. Sanket's long-term goal is to create a more compact and sustainable version of the robo bee that can operate for extended hours independently, preferably powered by solar energy and biodegradable when its parts wear out.
Collaborative Efforts and Challenges
Sanket acknowledges that a fully functional and sustainable robotic bee is still years away. However, the work is promising, with engineers and researchers at various institutions addressing the mechanical and cognitive aspects of the project. MIT, Harvard, and the University of Washington are focusing on building a robotic body no larger than a bee. Meanwhile, Sanket's team, in collaboration with researchers from the University of Maryland, is refining the robot's ability to navigate around objects and building its cognitive functions.
Creating the robo bee's brain is a complex task, as it differs significantly from the human brain. The team is drawing from entomological research on insect movement and behavior to understand how bees respond to specific situations. Doctoral and master's students working with Sanket are concentrating on enhancing the robotic bee's agility, speed, flight longevity, object awareness, and obstacle avoidance.
Promising Developments
One of the master's students, Rishabh Singh, is working on increasing the device's flight speed while maintaining its computing power and autonomy. The robo bee project, inspired by Sanket's work at the University of Maryland, aims to enable drones the size of a bee to fly autonomously through challenging environments. Singh highlights the need for lightweight yet sturdy drones capable of withstanding the demands of flying at high speeds through forests. Achieving such speed and agility in a small-sized drone presents a significant challenge but holds the promise of being part of the solution to the declining bee populations and their role in pollination.
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