Robotics Engineers Work to 'Bee' Part of the Climate Change Solution
Robotics Engineers Work to 'Bee' Part of the Climate Change Solution Introduction The impact of climate change is becoming increasingly evident, with recent extreme weather events serving as stark reminders of its reality. However, there is another less visible yet critical consequence of climate change—the ongoing decline of global bee populations. Bees, both commercially managed honeybees and wild native bees, play a pivotal role in the pollination of many crops. Approximately one-third of the food we consume relies on pollinators, emphasizing the significant effect of pollinator health on our lives. Alarmingly, nearly 35% of insect pollinator populations worldwide face the risk of extinction, and over half of North American native bee species are declining due to various factors, including pesticide use, habitat loss, climate change, and intensive farming practices. The Robo Bee Solution Nitin Sanket, an assistant professor in the Department of Robotics Engineering at WPI, i...