Micro Flying Robot...
In 2003, the famous Japanese electronics corporation Seiko
Epson was developing the world’s lightest helicopter, a micro flying robot that amazed the planet. But this, only
opened a wider road for the brighter flying, sometimes even
smaller robotics that were brought to life in the last 9 years even if just as a futuristic concept.
The purpose of its development was to demonstrate its micro- mechatronics technology and to explore the possible use of micro robots and the development of component technology applications.
Features and Capabilities
This weighing only 8.6 grams (85mm
in height, 136mm in diameter of rotors), µFR is levitated by contra- rotating propellers powered by four 7x2x1-mm ultrasonic motors (originally developed
for wristwatches) and is balanced in mid-air by means of a stabilizing mechanism that uses a linear actuator. Though
the µFR is radio-controlled, it relies on power from an external battery via a power cable and thus its flying range is limited. The µFR includes two microprocessors, a bluetooth module, a gyro-sensor, an accelerometer and an image sensor.
