Draper Cyborg Dragonfly Takes Flight

Jun-07-17 The DragonflEye project from the team at Draper is working on a cyborg dragonfly able to fly under commands.

The DragonflEye technology relies on optogenetics to control the insect’s motions, which involves infusing different areas of the dragonfly’s body with light-sensitive materials that produce and respond to certain wavelengths of light. A small “backpack guidance system” was then attached to the insect’s back, which should allow the team to guide the dragonfly by stimulating the optic nerve with pulses of light.

While the project is not yet complete, the team has released a video of the cyborg dragonfly in flight, demonstrating that it is able to carry its cargo of electronics in flight.

More Info about this Invention:

[IEEE.ORG]
[DRAPER.COM]

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