AI Receptionists
AI Employee
INBOUND
Voice AI Sales Agent Text AI Sales Agent
OUTBOUND
Voice & SMS AI Sales Agent Lead Nurturing AI Agent Instant Callback Agent
FOR BUSINESS OWNERS
INDUSTRIES
Restaurants Cleaning Services Home Service Companies Dental & Orthodontics Fitness & Wellness Hospitality HVAC/Plumbing
For Partners
PARTNERS
Become a partner Partners Listing
Pricing
Resources
DEVELOPERS
Agent Creator NEWO BUILDER API & DOCUMENTATION ACADEMY VIDEO TUTORIALS COMMUNITY HELP How to choose AI automation
COMPANY
ABOUT Competitive Advantage CONTACT BLOG INSIGHTS
Call 24/7: +1 (888) 639-6939 free consultations
Book a Demo
Home / Blog / Ants to AI: How Tiny Drones Navigate Like Insects
1 years ago 2 minutes

Ants to AI: How Tiny Drones Navigate Like Insects

img

In a groundbreaking study, TU Delft researchers have drawn inspiration from ants to revolutionize navigation strategies for tiny, lightweight robots. By mimicking how ants visually recognize their environment and count their steps, scientists have enabled these small drones to autonomously return home after long journeys, using minimal computational resources.

This innovation is a significant step forward for tiny robots, which often face challenges due to their limited computational power and memory. Current navigation methods for larger robots, such as self-driving cars, are too resource-intensive for these small machines. By turning to nature, researchers have developed a method that allows these drones to navigate effectively without relying on external infrastructure like GPS or beacons.

Facts and Examples:

  • Tiny robots (tens to a few hundred grams) are safe and can navigate narrow spaces.
  • GPS is often unavailable indoors and inaccurate in cluttered environments.
  • Inspired by ants' "snapshot" navigation model, taking occasional visual "snapshots" of their surroundings.

The practical applications of this technology are vast. Tiny drones could be deployed for tasks like monitoring stock in warehouses or detecting gas leaks in industrial sites. The proposed navigation strategy allows these drones to gather data and return to their starting point efficiently, even with limited computational resources.

Potential Applications:

  • Stock tracking in warehouses.
  • Crop monitoring in greenhouses.
  • Search-and-rescue operations where GPS is unavailable.

This breakthrough underscores the potential of bio-inspired design in advancing robotics, making it possible for tiny autonomous robots to perform essential tasks in various real-world environments with enhanced efficiency and reliability.

Key Highlights:

  • Inspired by how ants navigate using visual cues and step counting.
  • Achieved autonomous navigation with just 0.65 kiloBytes per 100 meters.
  • Published findings in Science Robotics on July 17, 2024.

Reference:

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1051338

Recent Posts See all
When AI Becomes Soldier: The Pentagon’s New Non-Human Workforce Dilemma
Miami’s Streets, Non-Human Workers & Shrinking Paychecks: When Robots Join the Delivery Game
When Robots Blink: China Unveils Ultra-Lifelike Robot Face, Blurring Lines Between Human and Machine
Industries
  • Restaurants
  • Fitness & Wellness
  • Home Services
  • Cleaning Services
  • Dental & Orthodontics
Company
  • Digital Employee
  • About Us
Resources
  • Pricing
  • Documentation
  • Academy
  • Community
  • Partner Program
Contact Us
  • Linkedin
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Email
  • © 2025 Newo.ai
  • Terms
  • Privacy Policy
  • Data Processing Addendum
  • Trust Center