University of Michigan College of Engineering have developed micro-sized energy harvesting devices to power insect mounted sensors, in research funded by DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency), part of the US Department of Defense. The research team got their inspiration from the amazing power of insects, such as the Green June Beetle used in their experiments, and the wish to provide electrical power for remote sensors. These sensors are ostensibly for “search-and-rescue operations, surveillance, monitoring of hazardous environments, and detection of explosives”, using tiny camera, microphone, and gas or biological sensors.
The researchers are proposing to sidestep the micro-machine process (where miniature mechanical devices replicate insect flight using battery powered synthetic muscles and carry the sensors), to actually use real insects to carry the sensors and also provide some of the electrical power to drive them. Of course, there is not much point in putting all this hardware onto an insect if it flies in the wrong direction or doesn’t want to fly at all, so they also propose that the insect be actively controlled.
While the miniature power gathering devices are an interesting concept and unique design innovation, especially the mechanical spiral piezoelectric generator that converts the kinetic energy of wing beats to electrical power, it looks a little unpleasant for the insect and certainly isn’t a natural experience for it. I wouldn’t like to have some mechanical device glued to my shoulders or inserted into my body and then be directed ‘encouraged’ to flap my wings.
The piezo-device and any additional solar power capture, would go towards powering the sensors, but the researchers also reference other research work on controlling the insects by “hi-jacking” their neural system. For example, rats are controlled with electrodes put in their brain that affect their whisker senses, and sharks are controlled by using scent release near their olfactory glands.
Controlling insect flight has been done using resistive/piezoelectric micro-thermal stimulators (heaters or miniature vibrating elements!) mounted near beetles’ antennae and flexible multisite electrodes that ‘interface’ with the central nervous system of moths, controlling wing-beat frequency and amplitude, along with brain and muscle stimulators for flight control.
The next step is to integrate more closely the energy gathering devices into the muscle of the insects, rather than just mounting it on their wings. That means surgically implanting the devices and this will greatly increase the power output, but also will be very intrusive (and painful for the insects) and a step in the direction of creating a true cyborg insect.
It also seems a little perverse to use the electrical energy generated from the insect’s wing beats to help power a device that is then controlling its very movements, and controlling when it starts and stops beating its wings. It is also unlikely that this work would also just go toward search and rescue, and other safety related tasks, and unfortunately could easily be modified to get the insect to deliver biological or viral infections to their target.
Via GizMag & Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering
Trevor Williams is a University of Victoria Mechanical Engineering PhD candidate specializing in renewable energy, power grid modeling and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. He has a bachelors in Aeronautical Engineering, a Masters in Management Science and over 23 years international experience in the space industry, having worked on Earth observation and telecommunications satellites. He is the author of the Eco-Geek blog.
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written by Vivian , November 27, 2011