MAROKO133 Hot ai: US engineers’ new wing design helps small robots fly longer by gliding l

📌 MAROKO133 Eksklusif ai: US engineers’ new wing design helps small robots fly lon

Researchers at Princeton University have developed a new model for insect-scale robots inspired by the unique flight mechanics of the American grasshopper.

Grasshopper’s gangly, awkward flight could solve the biggest power problems in robotics.

Standard micro-bots are modeled after bees. However, it is a power-hungry design that leaves most tiny robots gasping for a recharge almost as soon as they take off.

That’s why the team turned to look into how these insects transition between jumping, flapping, and gliding. 

The goal is to overcome a major hurdle: the high power consumption and heavy battery requirements of tiny flying machines. 

“Gliding is a mode of cheap flight,” said Aimy Wissa, associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering. 

Gliding mode

Flapping flight is a power-hungry endeavor, which bees or flies rely on.

For insect-sized robots, the weight of a battery powerful enough to sustain continuous flapping often exceeds the robot’s own lifting capacity.

But grasshoppers use cheap flight or gliding to conserve energy. This allows robots to use power for thrust when needed and deploy wings to glide when conserving battery.

For this study, Wissa’s team collaborated with biologists from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to study the wings of real grasshoppers.

While grasshoppers possess two sets of wings, the researchers focused exclusively on the hindwing to unlock the secrets of efficient flight. 

The hindwings feature a corrugated, 3D pattern of “hills and valleys” that serves a dual purpose: providing the structural integrity needed for flapping and allowing the wing to fold away neatly when not in use.

To understand this efficiency, the researchers took high-resolution CT scans of grasshopper hindwings. 

It was found that the grasshopper’s “accordion-style” wings offer a distinct mechanical edge: they can be tucked away for superior ground mobility and launched with minimal drag. 

Robotic flight efficiency

To validate their designs, the team submerged 3D-printed wings in water channels to map fluid dynamics, using water flow to refine the wings’ aerodynamic shapes. 

These optimized wings were then attached to lightweight frames and launched across the Princeton Robotics lab. 

Monitored by high-speed motion-capture cameras, the synthetic gliders achieved a major milestone: their flight performance matched the efficiency of real biological grasshoppers.

The study revealed a twist. While real grasshopper wings are corrugated — featuring sharp hills and valleys that help them fold — the team found that smooth wings actually glided more efficiently in their tests.

 “This showed us that these corrugations might have evolved for other reasons,” Wissa added, who is the study’s principal investigator

It appears nature traded some aerodynamic perfection for structural necessity; the ridges might be there to help the wings fold or to handle steep flight angles.

The team’s next challenge is figuring out how to make these wings deploy and retract automatically without adding heavy motors. 

If they succeed, the next generation of rescue robots won’t just buzz — they’ll jump, crawl, and soar, all on a single charge.

The study was published in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface on Jan. 7.

🔗 Sumber: interestingengineering.com

📌 MAROKO133 Eksklusif ai: AI-powered boats steal the spotlight as US marine tech g

The world’s largest marine technology company has unveiled its biggest display to date at CES 2026 to show how AI, autonomy and electrification are reshaping the future of boating.

Illinois-based Brunswick Corporation returned to this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, running from 6 to 9 January, with its most extensive marine innovation display to date.

To show how advanced digital systems are moving into real-world use, the firm’s exhibit brought together autonomous navigation, electric propulsion, AI-assisted helms and immersive simulators. These technologies were built to make boating easier to operate and accessible to a wider range of users.

“CES stands as the global epicenter for unveiling transformative innovation, and Brunswick is poised to exemplify the revolutionary impact of artificial intelligence and next-generation marine technologies,” Dave Foulkes, Brunswick Corporation CEO, pointed out.

The future of marine tech

With more than 50 water-borne brands, including Sea Ray, Bayliner and Mercury Marine, the company’s CES 2026 presence reflected the full commercial rollout of its ACES strategy (Autonomous and Assisted, Connected, Electrified and Shared).

At the event, the firm exhibited its revolutionary Simrad AutoCaptain autonomous boating system on two vessels. These included the global debut of a new Sea Ray SLX and the NAVAN C30, marking its first appearance at the Nevada-show.

Unlike fully autonomous concepts, AutoCaptain is designed as an assisted system. It should help operators manage more complex and stressful tasks such as docking, low-speed maneuvering, route planning and situational awareness.

To demonstrate how the technology works in practice, the firm introduced a next-gen AI-powered helm simulator that places users in realistic boating scenarios. An AI co-pilot responds to changing environmental conditions and helm inputs in real time.

The innovative solution is designed to ease the workload on boat operators while maintaining human control. It is also expected to be especially beneficial for less experienced boaters who may need additional support at the helm.

The new Sea Ray SLX on display reflects this approach with an automotive-style helm. “At the center is Sea Ray’s automotive-inspired helm featuring steering wheel-integrated controls, dual Simrad NSX ULTRAWIDE displays and deep connectivity with Mercury Marine propulsion,” the company noted.

Smarter marine technology

Brunswick also showcased a Lund Crossover XS, which is a family-oriented fish-and-ski boat equipped with the latest technologies from Lowrance and Mercury Marine.

The exhibit also featured the global launch of the FLITE RACE high-performance eFoil, an electric-powered surfboard with a mast and hydrofoil that lifts the board above the water creating a silent, flying sensation.

The model was made by Flite in collaboration with Mercury Racing. “Designed for competition, FLITE RACE will reach top speeds up to 34 mph,” the company said.

“Our exhibit epitomizes the celebration of our technology leadership, delivering advanced intelligent systems, seamless user interactions, and pioneering products engineered to empower a broader spectrum of enthusiasts to embrace the water with confidence,” Foulkes concluded in a press release.

The firm also displayed the NAVAN C30, a boat designed to improve accessibility through an intuitive layout, Simrad AutoCaptain autonomous support, integrated solar panels for onboard electronics and a Fliteboard eFoil, as well as a premium automotive-inspired design focused on clean interfaces and effortless operation.

For ongoing news, in-depth reporting, and key developments from CES 2026, read the IE team’s coverage here.

🔗 Sumber: interestingengineering.com