AUTUM C. PYLANT, NEWS EDITOR, autum.pylant @photonics.comSlightly heavier than a toothpick and powered by a laser beam, an insect-sized flying robot could help survey crop growth and sniff out gas leaks. These miniaturized drones, which soar by fluttering tiny wings rather than by rotating propellers, use their small size as an advantage and are fairly inexpensive to make. RoboFly — created by researchers at the University of Washington (UW) — uses a tiny onboard circuit that converts laser energy into enough electricity to operate its wings. To power RoboFly, the engineers point an invisible laser beam (shown here in red...Read full articleRelated content from Photonics MediaARTICLESOptical Pliers Made with Smart, Flexible Material Operate RemotelyLiquid crystal elastomer (LCE) technology was applied to practical use by a group of researchers who used this material to demonstrate a miniaturized gripping tool grown on optical fibers. 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They also work to...Photonics.com 10/1/2018PHOTONICS BUYERS' GUIDE CATEGORIESUltraviolet SpectrophotometersSpectrophotometer CellsMultichannel SpectrophotometersAtomic Absorption SpectrophotometersAtomic absorption spectrophotometers are used to analyze the sharp resonance line of a sample that, in a flame, emits an atomic vapor. It consists essentially of a light source, a combustion system,...COMPANIESMeller Optics Inc.Meller Optics has been providing high quality optics to defense, medical, laser and industrial markets for over 50 years. Specializing in grinding and polishing of hard, durable materials such as...Photonics Buyers' GuideA.R.W. Optical CorporationARW Optical is your reliable manufacturer of quality optics and coatings. Beamsplitters • Prototyping through volume-production quantities • High-performance and durable optical...Photonics Buyers' GuideFOCtek Photonics Inc.FOCtek provides customers with all types of custom manufactured lenses, Precision Optical Components, Polarizing Optics, Prisms, Filters, Coatings, Optical Systems, Crystals, Nonlinear Crystals,...Photonics Buyers' GuideGlass Fab Inc.A History of Quality Since 1974 Glass Fab Inc. has met customers' stringent specifications by providing fabricated parts made of optical glass, filter glass, fused quartz and fused silica, low...Photonics Buyers' Guide