This tiny, laser-powered RoboFly could sniff out forest fires and gas leaks
Researchers hope the mechanical bug could help scientists save the climate.
By Marlene Cimons Nexus Media May 30, 2018
Engineers power RoboFly by pointing a laser beam at a photovoltaic cell (blue) above the robot.
Mark Stone, University of Washington
This is one flying insect you don’t want to swat. It doesn’t bite, sting, or spread disease and someday it could be a life- and climate-saver. In time, it could survey crops, detect wildfires, poke around in disaster rubble searching for survivors and sniff out gas leaks, especially global warming-fueling methane, a powerful greenhouse gas many times more potent than carbon dioxide.
Introducing...RoboFly!
https://www.popsci.com/robofly-save-climate
