Robobugs set to spy for Pentagon
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Insect... or robot?
Tiny robot insects that mimic flying bugs are being developed by US
defence chiefs to spy on enemies, it was revealed on Wednesday.
The Pentagon's Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency has sanctioned
work on four 'robobugs' weighing less than 10g (0.3oz) each, and with a
7.5cm (3in) wingspan.
It is hoped to have prototypes flying in 2008.
The aim is for the bugs to carry tiny spy cameras. The bugs should be far
more manoeuvrable than micro-sized conventional aircraft.
But mimicking an insect's figure-of-eight wing beat - to give optimum
mid-air agility - is proving tough, New Scientist reports.
http://www.metro.co.uk/news/article.html?in_article_id=44914&in_page_id=34
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