Engineers Take Cues from Beetles to Make a Super-Efficient Robo-Boat
Tuesday, June 9, 2009 - 14:35
in Physics & Chemistry
Dolphins are elegant swimmers, but waterlily leaf beetle larvae take first place for the simplest stroke. The insect just arches its back to manipulate a basic physics principle that lets it glide across water. Now engineers have borrowed this technique to make a tiny boat that could autonomously patrol water reservoirs for months on just a watch battery. read more