The insect-like robot developed by Harvard researchers for flight experiments was named RoboBee.
Harvard researchers developed RoboBee as a tiny flying robot modeled on the mechanics of insects. The project was led by the Harvard Microrobotics Laboratory, with engineering work involving researchers at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering.
RoboBee used artificial muscles and lightweight wings that flapped at insect-like frequencies. Its small size made flight, power delivery, control, and manufacturing exceptionally difficult. Early versions were tethered because batteries and onboard electronics were too heavy for sustained untethered flight.
RoboBee is sometimes confused with Harvard’s later RoboBee X-Wing, which demonstrated untethered solar-powered flight, or with the military Nano Hummingbird. These projects share a small-flying-robot theme but are separate machines developed by different teams.