Finnish engineers have created a microscopic robot for pollinating plants.

Engineers from the University of Tampere have created a microscopic robot Fairy. It resembles dandelion seeds and is suitable for plant pollination. The robot weighs only 1.2 milligrams. It is equipped with a photosensitive liquid crystal elastomer. When exposed to light, this material changes the shape of the bristles on the surface of the Fairy, correcting its movements. Engineers plan to add GPS and biosensors to the robot. In the future, such devices will be able to spread pollen along a given route, pollinating plants instead of endangered insects.