Why a researcher is building robots that look and act like bats

A team led by Nitin J. Sanket, a professor at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), has developed palm-sized flying robots that mimic bats' use of ultrasound, aimed at search-and-rescue missions. AI software filters noise from the ultrasound signals, letting the robots detect obstacles within a 2-meter radius. The team chose low-power ultrasonic sensors commonly used in automatic faucets, and to suppress interference from propeller noise, designed 3D-printed structures placed in front of the robot to modulate sound waves, similar to the function of a bat's nose, ears, and mouth tissues. The robot currently works; the next step is to increase its flight speed.