MIT scientists have developed tiny flying robots weighing less than a gram that could replace bees as pollinators in indoor vertical farms.

A team of five researchers published a study on Jan. 15 in Science Robotics, highlighting a new design that improves flight precision, agility, and durability for insect-scale robots.

Lead author Kevin Chen stated that the robots’ increased lifespan and precision bring them closer to real-world applications like assisted pollination.

Vertical farming relies on artificial intelligence and lighting to grow crops indoors but struggles with pollination since bees cannot navigate artificial light and hand pollination is costly.

Scientists see robotic pollinators as a solution to support urban vertical farms, which could expand food production as the global population surpasses 9 billion by 2050.

The USDA predicts that by 2050, two-thirds of the world’s population will live in cities, making local vertical farming a sustainable way to produce fresh food with lower emissions and reduced water usage.

While currently limited to leafy greens, researchers are exploring vertical farming for self-pollinating fruits like strawberries and vegetables like tomatoes and peppers, UPI has reported.

USDA scientist Kai-Shu Ling believes vertical farming could capture 50% of the U.S. leafy green market and a portion of the fruit and vegetable market within a decade.

Written by B.C. Begley