Innovation of the week

“What’s better than a robot inspired by bees? A robot inspired by bees that can swim,” said Katherine Ellen Foley in Qz.com. Researchers guided by a team of scientists from Harvard University have developed a tiny, bee-size bot, weighing the same as “about two feathers,” to study the ocean. The robot has “insect-inspired wings that can both flap and rotate,” allowing it to dive into water, swim, take off again, and land safely. It also comes equipped with its own “little chemical lab” to help it break the water’s surface tension after it has taken a plunge. The bot converts water into oxygen and hydrogen, and once enough gas is generated, “a lighter sets it on fire, the force of which shoots the robot about 12 inches into the air.” Scientists hope the robots will be able to “keep tabs on fish and algae populations,” monitor water pollution, and even participate in search-and-rescue missions at sea. ■