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Inspired by a Fruit Fly: The Tiny Artificial Eye That Can See, Smell, and Guide Future Robots

Nature has always been one of humanity’s greatest teachers. Over millions of years, living organisms have evolved clever solutions to complex problems—solutions that modern science is only beginning to understand and copy. One such natural marvel is the compound eye of the humble fruit fly. Though the insect itself is tiny and often overlooked, its eyes are a masterpiece of biological engineering. Now, inspired by this natural design, scientists have created a revolutionary artificial eye that can both see and smell, opening exciting new possibilities for drones, robots, and intelligent machines.

Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed an insect-scale bionic compound eye that mimics how fruit flies perceive the world. Their work, published in the prestigious journal Nature Communications, describes a tiny system called the bio-CE system that combines wide-angle vision with chemical sensing. In simple terms, this artificial eye does not just look around—it also detects hazardous gases in the air, much like a built-in nose.

Why the Fruit Fly’s Eye Is So Special

Humans see the world using two camera-like eyes that provide high detail and sharp images. But our vision has limits. We can only see a narrow area clearly at one time, and turning our head or eyes is necessary to notice things happening on the sides. Fruit flies, on the other hand, experience the world very differently.

A fruit fly’s eye is made up of thousands of tiny visual units called ommatidia. Each unit captures a small part of the scene, and together they form a wide, panoramic view. This structure allows fruit flies to:

  • See almost 180 degrees around them

  • Detect motion extremely fast

  • React quickly to threats, like a swatting hand

In fact, fruit flies can process visual information several times faster than humans. This is why catching one can be so difficult.

For scientists designing robots and drones, these abilities are highly attractive.

The Problem with Traditional Robot Cameras

Most robots and drones today rely on traditional cameras similar to those in smartphones. While these cameras are excellent at taking high-definition images, they have several drawbacks when used for navigation:

  1. Narrow Field of View – They mostly see what is directly in front of them.

  2. Poor Peripheral Vision – Objects approaching from the side may go unnoticed.

  3. Bulk and Power Use – High-quality cameras and processors are often large and consume significant energy.

In complex environments—such as disaster zones, crowded cities, or collapsed buildings—these limitations can be dangerous. A robot that cannot quickly detect obstacles from all directions may crash, get stuck, or miss important signals.

Building an Artificial Compound Eye

To overcome these challenges, the researchers turned to advanced manufacturing techniques inspired by biology. Their goal was to recreate the fruit fly’s compound eye on a tiny, insect-scale platform.

Advanced Printing at the Microscopic Level

The team used a cutting-edge method called femtosecond laser two-photon polymerization (FL-TPP). In simple terms, this technique allows scientists to “3D print” extremely small and precise structures using ultra-fast laser pulses.

Using FL-TPP, they printed tiny lenses directly onto flexible sensors. The final structure contained 1,027 individual visual units, all packed into an area measuring just 1.5 by 1.5 millimeters—smaller than a grain of rice.

Copying Nature’s Small Details

Just like real fruit flies, the researchers also added tiny hairs, known as setae, between the lenses. In nature, these hairs help keep the eye clean and prevent moisture buildup in humid conditions. Including them in the artificial eye improves reliability and performance in real-world environments.

Adding a Sense of Smell: A Bionic Nose

Vision alone is powerful, but combining multiple senses makes a system even smarter. To give their artificial eye an extra ability, the researchers added a chemical-sensing layer.

Using inkjet printing, they deposited a special color-changing chemical array onto the device. This array reacts when it encounters hazardous gases in the air. When a gas is detected, the chemical changes color, signaling danger.

Although real fruit flies do not have a nose on their eyes, they constantly combine visual and chemical information to survive. The bio-CE system mimics this multi-sensory processing, allowing machines to both see obstacles and smell potential threats at the same time.

Testing the Bio-CE System on a Robot

To prove that their invention worked outside the laboratory, the team mounted the bio-CE system onto a small, four-wheeled robot. The results were impressive.

Unlike traditional robots that must turn or swivel to scan their surroundings, this robot could:

  • Detect moving objects across a 180-degree field of view

  • See obstacles on the left and right simultaneously

  • Avoid collisions without complex camera movements

  • Sense hazardous gases in the environment

This wide-angle awareness makes navigation faster, simpler, and safer—especially in tight or unpredictable spaces.

As the researchers noted in their paper, the system shows “exceptionally high sensitivity for wide-angle moving target detection and proximity avoidance,” highlighting its strong potential for unmanned platforms and intelligent robots.

Current Limitations and Trade-Offs

While the bio-CE system represents a major technological leap, it is not without challenges. Making something so small and fast required compromises.

  • Lower Image Resolution – The system does not produce high-definition images like smartphone cameras.

  • Image Distortion – Due to the curved lens structure, images can appear stretched.

  • Slower Chemical Response – The color-changing chemical sensors react more slowly than the visual system.

However, these limitations are well understood, and researchers believe future improvements in materials and processing can address them.

Future Applications: Where This Technology Could Shine

Once refined, insect-scale visual-olfactory systems could transform many fields:

  • Search and Rescue – Tiny drones could navigate collapsed buildings and detect gas leaks while searching for survivors.

  • Environmental Monitoring – Robots could monitor air quality or detect chemical pollution in dangerous areas.

  • Industrial Safety – Early detection of hazardous gases in factories or power plants.

  • Swarm Robotics – Groups of small robots working together with fast, wide-angle awareness.

Because the system is small, lightweight, and energy-efficient, it is especially suited for miniature drones and robots where space and power are limited.

Learning from Nature to Build Smarter Machines

The bio-CE system is a powerful example of biomimicry—the practice of learning from nature to solve human engineering problems. By studying how a simple fruit fly sees and senses its environment, scientists have created a new kind of artificial eye that could guide the next generation of intelligent machines.

As research continues, the line between biology and technology will grow even thinner. And sometimes, the biggest breakthroughs come from the smallest creatures.

Reference:
Jiachuang Wang et al., An insect-scale artificial visual-olfactory bionic compound eye, Nature Communications (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-68940-0

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