A spy in the sky not much bigger than a fly has been developed by a top American university. Posted on 07/29/2007 4:35:55 PM PDT by traumer
A spy in the sky not much bigger than a fly has been developed by a top American university.
Scientists at Harvard have invented a robotic fly to send on reconnaissance missions in areas too dangerous for humans, such as those contaminated by chemical or biological weapons.
It can also be used to find hidden bombs and in search missions.
The "flybot", which can fit on a fingertip, is made of lightweight carbon and weighs less than a pin.
Researchers, led by Professor Robert Wood, spent seven years on the project with the backing of the US military.
"The real benefit of the fly is that from a military aspect, you probably wouldn't be able to notice it," said Prof Wood.
Recreating a fly's efficient movements in a robot roughly the size of the real insect was difficult because existing manufacturing processes could not be used to make the sturdy, lightweight parts required.
The motors, bearings, and joints typically used for large-scale robots would not work for something the size of a fly.
Ultimately, the team developed its own fabrication process, and using laser micromachining, researchers cut thin sheets of carbon fibre and polymer.
But while the two-winged device can now take to the air using the same motions as a real fly, the team has yet to work out how to control it in flight.
Take a look at the other scientific breakthroughs made by Harvard's School Of Engineering & Applied Sciences.
You know the enviro wackos are going to go nuts because some animals are going to try to eat these things and become sick or die.
Might work in an office, but in a windy environment?
I don’t think so.
And no, I'm not inquiring.
At first I thought it was developed by MONSANTO....
Unless it can see the Muzzies planting bombs in the night, it sounds like another $100 million tax dollars wasted.
All they told us is that it flies. How does it gather data? Does it record or transmit? Flight time?
Or is it, “Sorry, classified.” If so, then they shouldn’t even mention it at all. Or is it fake?
Where is the battery? Or fuel tank??
$100 robot ping.
So that proverbial ‘I’d like to have been a fly on the wall...” can really happen?
At first I thought it was developed by MONSANTO....
Good one
Swat!
Details, Details, Details. Can’t control it in flight. Sounds like a contemporary teenager.
LOL! Spot on!
A video of his “fly” is a available on Engadget.com
From what I saw, the power supply was from two thin needles, as long as the “fly” can fly. They have not yet developed a self-contained energy supply to sustain its flight higher than the length of those wires.
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