How robotic honeybees and hives could help the species fight back

Schmickl, who now leads the Artificial Life Lab at the University of Graz in Austria, wasn't wrong. Studies in various parts of the world have since found that insect populations are declining or changing. After working in the field of swarm robotics for several years--using nature to inspire robots--Schmickl decided to flip his work around and design robots to help nature, a concept he calls ecosystem hacking. Honeybees and other pollinators face habitat loss, pesticide exposure, and other challenges, and Schmickl believes that coming to their aid could help strengthen entire ecosystems. Already, some companies offer augmented beehives that monitor conditions inside, or even robotically tend the bees.