Researchers at the Technical University of Darmstadt and the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf have developed bio-inspired robotic wings that are moved by magnetic fields. Inspired by the wings of the monarch butterfly, these structures were produced using 3D printing. The technology enables precise movements without electronics or batteries and could find applications in environmental monitoring, rescue operations and medicine.
The basis of the development is the adaptability of the monarch butterfly’s wings, which achieve high efficiency through a combination of active movement and passive bending. The research team, led by Professor Oliver Gutfleisch and Dr. Denys Makarov, used a flexible plastic into which magnetic particles were integrated. External magnetic fields set these particles in motion, causing the wings to bend and mimic the natural flight patterns of the butterfly.
In a complex development process, twelve wing designs were initially produced using 3D printing. Some contained vein structures that were modeled on natural wing veins. The team used finite element analyses to investigate how these structures influence the efficiency and maneuverability of the wings. The results, published in the journal “Advanced Intelligent Systems”, show that larger wings with veins are particularly adaptable and robust.
There are many potential applications for this technology. Robots with such wings could be used to monitor environmental conditions or for search and rescue in disaster areas. In medicine, the magnetic structures could be used for minimally invasive procedures.
“The current wings still require external magnetic fields, but future developments could integrate miniaturized magnetic field generators to enable autonomous movements,” explains Muhammad Bilal Khan, also lead author of the study.
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