Best miniature aircraft have been developed. For what is it?

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Scientists can do even more harm by saving the planet from pollution with such miniature aircraft devices.

When developing new technologies, scientists often draw inspiration from nature. For example, the bird’s beak helped engineers create fast airplanes with streamlined noses, and worms became the prototypes of many medical robots for examining human viscera. Recently, scientists from the USA state of Illinois have developed the smallest flying machine, slightly bigger than a grain of sand.

Their design was inspired by maple seeds, which are known to us from childhood as “lionfish,” “helicopters,” and “noses”… Their shape allows them to fall to the surface of the Earth very slowly, and this is precisely the feature that scientists wanted to endow their invention. They claim that their design can be equipped with power supplies, an antenna for wireless communication, built-in memory, and all kinds of sensors. But for what is all this?

The smallest flying device

The new invention of American scientists was described in the scientific publication Science Alert. Engineers call their brainchild “micro flier,” which literally can be translated as “microscopic pilot.” The essence of this miniature aircraft is straightforward – it catches the wind and rotates, slowly falls to the ground. It can be equipped with an energy supply and electronics for collecting and recording various data simultaneously. According to one of the inventors of the invention, John Rogers (John Rogers), such a device can monitor changes in the environment and even outbreaks of various diseases. The sensors must remain in the air as long as possible – the created design perfectly copes with this task to obtain data more accurately.

Researchers believe they were able to “conquer” nature. At the very least, they have developed a design that allows the electronics to fall in a predictable trajectory and at low speed. The maple seeds mentioned at the beginning of the article have a more unpredictable fall path, so the invention surpassed its prototype in capabilities. Also, the structure they created is smaller in size – can compare them to grains of sand. From now on, if an oil leak is noticed somewhere or another catastrophe occurs, it will be easier for ecologists to control the situation.

Saving nature, you shouldn’t harm it.

It sounds intriguing, but scientists can do even more harm by saving the planet from pollution with miniature aircraft devices. They fear that sensors falling from above will remain on the ground and, without decaying, will pollute the environment for thousands of years. Scientists have recognized that it is necessary to develop a way to dispose of them when creating such technologies safely. The easiest way to avoid contaminating the planet with miniature aircraft is to make them from decaying materials. A group of scientists is already developing materials that biodegrade. If they succeed, after completing their tasks, the miniature aircraft will not leave behind harmful substances.

We understand that it is complicated to collect a massive number of users, “microscopic pilots.” To prevent contamination, we will make them from materials that dissolve naturally and harmlessly,” announced John Rogers.

Plastic pollution of the Earth

It is commendable that scientists from Illinois are trying to create technologies for monitoring the environment. They are thinking about the safe disposal of used electronics. It would be great if the manufacturers of equipment and food products did the same. Scientists recently studied the insides of fish from different times and found that plastic began to accumulate inside them since the 1950s. But environmentalists were seriously concerned about the plastic pollution of the planet only 10-15 years ago. In tomorrow, the condition may become even more severe.

I recently thought about this. In 2019, the European Parliament passed a law banning single-use plastic products. We are talking about plastic dishes, cotton swabs, cocktail tubes, and so on. But at the same time, plastic bottles, containers, parts of cars, and many other large items are still allowed. And this is although they do more harm to nature than tiny tubes. It takes an extended time to make assumptions about why significant sources of pollution are still being turned a blind eye – there are plenty of probable reasons. Maybe you also have some thoughts on this? Write in the comments.