MIT works to perfect self-healing robotic flying bugs that can swarm

MIT News reports on work by some researchers at the school to develop little flitty flying automatons that can overcome damage to their artificial wing muscles and wings - sometimes through use of a tiny little laser.

So far, they've figured out how to keep the robobugs flying even after their "muscles," or actuators, have been jabbed by up to ten needles and after the wings have had 20% of their tips removed.

They optimized these artificial muscles so the robot can better isolate defects and overcome minor damage, like tiny holes in the actuator. In addition, they demonstrated a novel laser repair method that can help the robot recover from severe damage, such as a fire that scorches the device. ...

Their repair methods enabled a robot to keep flying even after the researchers cut off 20 percent of its wing tip.

They add, though, that bumble bees can keep flying even after losing up to 40% of their wings, so their work continues. In addition to keeping the wings going, the researchers are working on getting the fauxbees to handle complex tasks such as landing on a flower and flying in a swarm - and figuring out how to let them fly untethered through their own carry-on power sources.

No word if they're working on flyettes that could survive being whacked with a fly swatter.