Finnish researchers have demonstrated a robot Fairy (fairy, which stands for Flying Aero-robots based on Light Responsive Materials Assembly) that flies by the wind and is controlled by light. Inspired by dandelion seeds, “Fairy” has several biomimetic features. Due to its high porosity (0.95) and lightweight (1.2 mg) structure, it floats easily in the windy air. More importantly, the stable generation of separated vortex rings makes long-distance wind-assisted flight possible. According to the researchers, the fairy could be powered and controlled by a light source, such as a laser beam or LED. This means that light can be used to change the shape of tiny dandelion seed-like structures, ‘fairies’ can change shape to adapt to wind direction and force, and light beams can be used to control the take-off and landing of polymer components. The newly developed robot is an important step towards real-world applications suitable for artificial pollination, according to the researchers. In the future, millions of artificial dandelion seeds carrying pollen could be dispersed freely by natural winds, and then guided by light to specific areas where there are trees waiting to be pollinated.
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