In their experiment, the US researchers were able to fly the robot fly for a few seconds up to the previously defined height of ten centimetres. A controlled sideways movement was also possible. Intelligent control of the wing beats ensures that the artificial insect does not go into a spin: both wings can be moved forwards and backwards independently of each other or rotated variably around a horizontal axis of rotation. Flies in the wild use similar movements to stabilize their flight in short gusts of wind. Unlike their natural role model ...