Micro Flying Robot

In 2003, the famous Japanese electronics corporation Seiko

Epson was developing the world’s lightesthelicopter, 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.