Biologists and technologists at the University of California, Berkeley have spent the past four years developing a tiny robot, called the Micromechanical Flying Insect, that they say will one day fly like a fly. The Berkeley project is one of several similar projects with the same goal: churn out tiny, nimble devices that can surreptitiously spy on enemy troops, explore the surface of Mars or safely monitor dangerous chemical spills.
Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, are aiming to create biologically inspired 'roboflies' -- tiny, inexpensive, quick-moving robots they can send into space for planetary exploration.
A tiny spy plane, propelled by the flap of insect-like wings, is being developed by British scientists to combat terrorism. The design is based on the aeronautical feats of the hover fly, which can flutter over flowers while drawing nectar.
Researchers at the University of California at Berkeley are building a flying robot about the size of a fly for military reconaissance.
The Pentagon has announced a $60 million project to study how insects and reptiles fly, crawl, climb, and smell. The research will help them develop micro-robots for surveillance, reconnaissance, mine-detection and other tasks.