MIT’s Insect-Sized Flying Robots Gain Acrobatic Skills for Future Search-and-Rescue

MIT researchers have achieved a breakthrough with tiny flying robots. A new AI-based control system has enabled them to reach speed and agility comparable to real insects.

The Core Achievement:

• A robot the size of a micro-cassette, weighing less than a paperclip, can now perform complex acrobatics, such as executing 10 consecutive somersaults in 11 seconds.
• Its speed and acceleration increased by 450% and 250%, respectively, compared to previous models.
• The key is a novel two-step AI controller. First, a sophisticated model calculates the optimal maneuver, then a compact neural network, trained on this data, controls the robot in real-time.

The Purpose:
The primary goal is to deploy such robots for finding survivors in rubble after earthquakes. Their small size and new agility will allow them to navigate tight spaces inaccessible to humans or larger drones.

What’s Next:
The robot is currently tethered to an external computer. Scientists are now working to equip it with compact sensors and cameras for fully autonomous flight in complex environments. This will pave the way for their practical use in real-world search-and-rescue missions.