Robotic bees could take the sting out of Colony Collapse Disorder

America's agricultural sector faces an unprecedented crisis. Native honeybees, one of the most prolific pollinators in the animal kingdom, are dying off at an unprecedented rate from Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), threatening an ecosystem service worth about $15 billion. Supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the "RoboBees" project looks to minimize the loss of this critical resource with remarkable microbots that can mimic the pollinating role of a honeybee. But the project has a number of challenges to overcome before these robots can take to the skies. The RoboBee is a microrobot inspired by the biology of a honey bee.