For years, the military has turned to the birds and the bees for inspiration, churning out mechanical hummingbirds and remote-controlled insect cyborgs. Now the Pentagon wants its mini-drones to have hairy wings and bug eyes, too. It’ll help the tiny machines spy on — and creep out — any enemies, military researchers promise.
MAVs or Micro Air Vehicles are tiny, hovering bots that have been deployed for battlefield reconnaissance. But they’re still as limited as they are small. MAVs can’t really navigate urban environments or maintain a stable hover when the wind suddenly shifts. ”Get them among buildings or give them something to do near the ground — and they’re helpless,” James Paduano, chief engineer for bio-inspired development projects at Aurora Flight Sciences Research & Development Center, told Danger Room.
Read More: http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/10/drones-tiny-hairs/
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