PDA

View Full Version : Insect size flying machines


flan2dave
2 Oct 2004, 02:07 AM
There has been no real mechanical match for something as abundant and common as flying insects. It's one of those deceptively simple features of nature that resists technological innovation. It would be great fun to tap into the potential of machines like that. Artificial fireflies to set the mood? Pranks? Repairs? Heh heh, they would be wonderful devices.
jimkopelli
3 Oct 2004, 05:20 AM
They've tried sticking little control boards onto roaches... I'm not sure about effectiveness/success rates... but I remember reading an article about it. I think they were able to get basic control... forward, turn, etc, but that's about it. I'm pretty sure they haven't been able to do anything like that with fliers yet, though... or nothing that I've seen, anyway.
PsiKik
25 Oct 2004, 02:42 PM
Do a search with the keyword 'mesocopter'. About experiments to create what youre talking about.
Laeskis
26 Oct 2004, 03:43 AM
I saw some science/tech documentary thing on t.v. The military has some flying robotic insects, with cameras mounted on them.
They were about the size of dragonflies. I'm sure it was/is an experiment; I don't think they've put them into practical use yet.
InsurgentAlpha
26 Oct 2004, 05:49 AM
They also have a flying pigeon camera. The thing looks like a real pigeon and if you saw it flying around you'd have no clue! I saw some pics on the net once.
Avengardh
26 Oct 2004, 06:00 AM
Ewww, roaches.

I heard insects were hard to emulate...but then again Mexico's University built a robot that could play the piano and then some d00ds stole it.

Bastards...
jimkopelli
26 Oct 2004, 09:43 PM
Ok, I heard about another version... Take a bee. Train it to seek out the smell of explosives instead of flowers. Mount a miniature GPS locator on it. Let it out, and it'll tell you where landmines are, by hovering over the spot long enough to get a reading, and then returning. It's a better method than chickens, definitely.
InsurgentAlpha
26 Oct 2004, 10:40 PM
CIA gadgets: robot fish, pigeon camera, jungle microphones

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2003-12-26-spy-gear_x.htm

The CIA isn't showing off just its successes. It invented a remote-controlled dragonfly for delivering tiny listening devices outside windows: a bug carrying a bug. But the so-called "insectothopter," with a miniature engine, built by a watchmaker, couldn't fly straight in winds and didn't work out.
Laeskis
27 Oct 2004, 03:00 AM
Ok, I heard about another version... Take a bee. Train it to seek out the smell of explosives instead of flowers. Mount a miniature GPS locator on it. Let it out, and it'll tell you where landmines are, by hovering over the spot long enough to get a reading, and then returning. It's a better method than chickens, definitely.

Don't eat the honey! It could be laced with NitroGlycerin!
Dunearhp
1 Nov 2004, 09:31 AM
Ok, I heard about another version... Take a bee. Train it to seek out the smell of explosives instead of flowers. Mount a miniature GPS locator on it. Let it out, and it'll tell you where landmines are, by hovering over the spot long enough to get a reading, and then returning. It's a better method than chickens, definitely.

Don't eat the honey! It could be laced with NitroGlycerin!

That's alright, it just makes them fly faster.