U.S. military planners and robot designers are developing the next-generation of military robots -- some of which could see action soon in Iraq -- by incorporating lessons from Afghanistan, where robots saw their first significant military action.
The events of Sept. 11 have focused awareness, increased funding and accelerated the commercialization of micro- and nanotechnology devices that can sense minute traces of chemical, biological and nuclear agents in the air or water, according to business leaders and researchers.
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.