The first wireless fly-sized drone

We built the world's first fly-sized drone that does not need a wire to the ground to supply power and control signals. This is a challenge because of the difficulty of miniaturizing the circuitry to drive the robot's piezo actuators. The piezo actuators, which drive its flapping wings, require a step-up voltage converter. We figured out a new way to quickly make the ultra-light circuit and incorporated the first microprocessor brain on-board, creating a circuit weighing less than a toothpick. We provided power using an infrared laser beam.