Check Out the World's Smallest Flying Robot Insect

[JMcEntegart]

Hands up who else can't wait to see a swarm of these?

Check Out the World's Smallest Flying Robot Insect : Read more

 

[DarkSable]

My first reaction: "Oh my god it's adorable and I want one."

 

[edgewood112358]

Too cool! I wonder how long it will "bee" though, before they can actually integrate the power supply onto the robot itself, so that it can "fly" untethered...

 

[xalted]

Robot insect? Perfect for the world of espionage. Pretty sure I've seen it in a movie or some anime, though. Only problem? The almighty flyswatter.

 

[Zeppelingcdm]

The military has had this technology for a while now. Their version has audio and video streaming, as well as using electrical outlets or heat sources to recharge it's battery through induction charging. In theory giving it unlimited use.

 

[velocityg4]

My first thought is, "Great, soon enough the government will be able to easily hide mobile video and audio surveillance into everybody's homes without them knowing." I'm guessing the British will experience this first. Then a bunch of fools will defend it saying that if your not doing anything illegal why should you care. Just as they said for all the cameras everywhere, security scanners and pat downs in public areas.

 

[Pailin]

I would be interested to see a link to That Zeppelingcdm, but somehow I doubt it.
I still believe we are a way off sustained remote flight, we simply don't have anything with enough energy density today for such small scale items.
Makes me respect the insects for their sustained energy output and beautiful flight like the dragonfly. Really amazing!

 

[Stephen Kong]

Assassin drone shooting poison darts.

 

[Zeppelingcdm]

@ Pailin, Not my research man. It's an author named Dan Brown's research for his Book Deception Point.
"Author’s Note
The Delta Force, the National Reconnaissance Office, and the Space Frontier
Foundation are real organizations. All technologies described in this novel exist."
There is a 3-4 page section going into detail about the surveillance bot. I would confirm Dan's research myself but I doubt anyone at the NRO would talk to me.

 

[bit_user]

Zeppelingcdm, your first clue should be that induction charging needs an inductor and flow of current. Therefore, it can't work well on just a wire coming out of an electrical socket, nor can it use heat.
Secondly, if the Internet has taught us anything, it's that the world has no shortage of conspiracies nor of people who believe them. I'm amazed that it's usually the same people who complain about government incompetance that somehow think the government is so amazingly brilliant at developing advanced technologies that are decades ahead of the commercial sector even capable of deploying them on a mass scale w/o the widespread knowledge of the public.
Maybe I'm just talking sense, but who knows - I could actually part of the conspiracy! Spooky!

 

[bambiboom]

Delightful in it's way, and the miniaturized motor and wing linkage is interesting.
However, it's not properly described as a "robot" as there is not even semi-autonomy nor any reactive system. Nor is the device an "insect" in that the lift is not replicating any find of natural wing action- there's no beetle, dragonfly, or bird that has completely vertically oscillating wings that also do not change shape. I suspect that some degree of stability is due to the tether wire. The ground effects lift system limits the height. The reason it can't be internally powered is the inefficiency of the wings- they should have just used a rotor / fan. It's not a robot insect, it's a highly inefficient, relatively unstable, wire-controlled hovercraft.
This is far from being a candidate for any practical use> besides the height limitation and inefficiency requiring external power, motion is limited to two axes - up and down and side to side- there is no 3-axis control. The military use would be limited to applying for grants.
If the Wyss Institute is funding the adaptation of biological structures to technology, they should ask for a refund. There is success in miniaturization, but if the power and control is external, the total size of the system has to be considered- and that would include the power supply, control, and the person operating- it's a 100kg system. Overall, an unrefined and almost comically limited concept, inappropriately described.
What a technological breakthrough- wire control and external power supply one-hundred fourteen years after Tesla's radio-controlled boat!
Cute as hell though!
BB

 

[bambiboom]

RE: My previous comment >
_Upon review, I realized that in my previous comment I made dismissive and semi-sarcastic comments concerning long-term, considered research and a design of which I can not have full understanding from the article and accompanying video. My poor excuse is that the emphasis of the article and importance of the work was skewed by the application of the terms "robot" and "insect" that were probably used for non-scientific description in a wider media. I would like to offer my apologies for the tone of these inappropriate, non-constructive comments.
_This is in fact a very stimulating concept, and of course it was necessary to immediately fuss out a design- home insectibotics design is fun!
BB

 

[Pailin]

Thanks for the source Zeppelingcdm.
Personally I am someone who likes to look ahead to what is possible, stretching the bounds of scientific and spiritual reality.
But I find it hard to put too much weight in the words taken from a Dan Brown thriller after his previous works, which purported to possibly be the truth were found to be works of fiction with links to the truth enough to make lend some credence.
(I have not read and see no reason to read any of this books, though my own father showed great interest in the past)
I have a great interest in remote control toys like my Align T-Rex 600 top of the line electric RC helicopter (at least it was when i got it a few years back). While it can fly in beautiful ways I never dreamed possible (search you tube "Trex 600 amazing tricks" for a Great example) it has a relatively short flight time.
So I am Always on the lookout for more advanced power storage in scientific articles.
Right now there is a small UK company making some Advanced Hydrogen Fuel cells that would be capable of powering such a helicopter, if not at max power levels.
For now, our power storage density is too low and our motors are relatively primitive to our needs.
Big private companies all over the world are researching this stuff, the 1st ones to get ahead (often with bigger budgets than Gov. R&D can afford for such research) will be set to make a Lot of $

 

[Pailin]

Thanks for the source Zeppelingcdm.
Personally I am someone who likes to look ahead to what is possible, stretching the bounds of scientific and spiritual reality.
But I find it hard to put too much weight in the words taken from a Dan Brown thriller after his previous works, which purported to possibly be the truth were found to be works of fiction with links to the truth enough to make lend some credence.
(I have not read and see no reason to read any of this books, though my own father showed great interest in the past)
I have a great interest in remote control toys like my Align T-Rex 600 top of the line electric RC helicopter (at least it was when i got it a few years back). While it can fly in beautiful ways I never dreamed possible (search you tube "Trex 600 amazing tricks" for a Great example) it has a relatively short flight time.
So I am Always on the lookout for more advanced power storage in scientific articles.
Right now there is a small UK company making some Advanced Hydrogen Fuel cells that would be capable of powering such a helicopter, if not at max power levels.
For now, our power storage density is too low and our motors are relatively primitive to our needs.
Big private companies all over the world are researching this stuff, the 1st ones to get ahead (often with bigger budgets than Gov. R&D can afford for such research) will be set to make a Lot of $