Researchers at the University of Washington developed small robotic devices that can change how they move through the air by "snapping" into a folded position during their descent. Each device has an onboard battery-free actuator, a solar power-harvesting circuit and controller to trigger these shape changes in mid-air. These circuits are assembled and patterned directly onto the flexible material that makes up the microfliers, as shown here.

Researchers at the University of Washington developed small robotic devices that can change how they move through the air by "snapping" into a folded position during their descent. Shown here is a timelapse photo of the "microflier" falling in its folded state, which makes it have a stable upright descent.

Researchers at the University of Washington developed small robotic devices that can change how they move through the air by "snapping" into a folded position during their descent. Shown here is a timelapse photo of the "microflier" falling in its unfolded state, which makes it tumble chaotically in the wind.