Insect-like robotic spy could join war effort
SECURITYDrone would provide U.S. with ‘fly on wall’

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: November 22, 2008


This photo taken from computer animation video shows the next generation of drones. AP PHOTO

DAYTON, Ohio — If only we could be a fly on the wall when our enemies are plotting to attack us. Better yet, what if that fly could record video and even fire tiny weapons?

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That kind of James Bond-style fantasy is actually on the drawing board. U.S. military engineers are trying to design flying robots disguised as insects that could one day spy on enemies and conduct dangerous missions without risking lives.

"The way we envision it is, there would be a bunch of these sent out in a swarm,” said Greg Parker, who helps lead the research project at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. "If we know there’s a possibility of bad guys in a certain building, how do we find out? We think this would fill that void.”

In essence, the research seeks to miniaturize the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle drones used in Iraq and Afghanistan for surveillance.


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Related Topics: Electronics, Science and Technology, Consumer Electronics, Technology, War and Conflict, U.S. Armed Forces Activities, Armed Forces, Nature and the Environment, U.S. Air Force Activities, Wildlife, U.S. Army Activities, Military Technology, Insects, Audio and Video Devices, Afghanistan War, Video Recorders, Remotely Operated and Robotic Vehicles


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