Is It Possible to Harvest Power from a Bee’s Wings?

Researchers from the Beijing Institute of Technology and Sun Yat-sen University have developed an ultralight piezoelectric energy harvester (PEH) that generates electricity from the thorax vibrations of freely flying bees. The device weighs 46 milligrams, and is designed to avoid interfering with the insect’s natural behavior.

The harvester is constructed from polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) films and laser-cut copper substrates, bonded with conductive adhesive. It includes a double-crystal structure to enhance voltage output. The design was tuned to match the bee’s natural vibration frequency and optimize the center of gravity. During testing, the device produced a peak voltage of 5.66 volts and a power density of 1.27 milliwatts per cubic centimeter.

Experimental validation involved multiphysics simulations using Comsol software and real-time motion tracking with high-speed CMOS cameras. Bees equipped with the device were observed flying, hovering, and recovering from flips normally, confirming minimal biomechanical impact.

According to the study, next steps include integrating energy management circuits and adapting the technology for other insect species, such as butterflies and dragonflies. The research was published in Cyborg and Bionic Systems and suggests potential applications for low-power biohybrid systems in environmental and remote monitoring.