Untethered Flight of a 270 mg Microrobot Powered by Onboard Energy

It is challenging for microrobots to fly using onboard energy due the relatively heavy power supplies and inefficient actuators that are limited a small size (mass less than 1000 mg wingspan 100 mm). Inspired by movement of jellyfish in nature (Physophora hydrostatica), herein, microscale aerial vehicle FlyJelly introduced, powered achieve untethered flight. uses balloon filled with helium overcome self-gravity an actuator electrostatic generate thrust. The balloon, heat sealed two gold-covered Mylar films, weighs 95.56 mg, provides 257.9 buoyancy when helium, stores 19.457 × 10−3 J 2400 V direct current. composed multiflapping units arranged radially symmetrically, consuming only 0.3370 mW but generating thrust 0.2271 mN drive Benefiting from design distributed propulsion, highly reliable continues work well even after damaged. milligram-level weight, flight energy, high reliability make prototype suitable development as long-term remote exploration search-and-rescue mission.