The advancement in stimulus-sensitive polymers has presented a multitude of material-based prospects for the latest small-sized, remotely operated soft-bodied robots. Engineers have been using these materials to fabricate small robots capable of walking, swimming, and jumping. However, the creation of flying robots using these materials remains a challenge.
The Light Robots group at Tampere University is exploring ways to make smart materials fly. Group leader Hao Zeng and doctoral researcher Jianfeng Yang have designed a project named "FAIRY" (Flying Aero-robots based on Light Responsive Materials Assembly) to tackle this challenge. The team has created a polymer-based robot that can fly using wind power and is controlled using light.
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