Micro-Robots Could Be The New Front Line May 13, 2008

Read more Gadgets , Robots , Science , Technology

Nanobots are the subject of many a science fiction novel and are seen by most as a genuine possibility in the not so distant future.

These new military test spy-bots may not be quite that small, but are still dinky enough to mimic a harmless fly, among other bugs, and provide invaluable information to US Marines in the field.

Engineers at BAE Systems Inc. are beginning to develop a series of micro-robots, inspired by birds and insects, which will dart around enemy territory and report back wirelessly to HQ.

The ‘insects’ are being designed to work as a swarm where each has its own specific mission, for example recording audio, recording video or sensing dangerous chemical agents. They can be sent into danger areas to retrieve vital information such as infra-red images and the positions of snipers.

Some will be ground-based and designed to map out hallways in buildings where others will take to the air. They’ll also be very efficiently designed, with legs that act as antennas to keep them lightweight and manoeuvrable. The insects themselves shouldn’t be that hard to work up, but the real challenge comes in getting them to work as a swarm.

BAE CTO Aaron Penkacik reckons we could see results within five years and has recently signed a $38 million deal to undertake the project, which will be aided by the California Institute of Technology and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory among others. – Paul Lester

[PC World]

robots nanobots surveillance