Harvard researchers develop world's first flying robotic insect

Flies! The detestable little creatures. Who'd have thought that they could be useful for anything, anything at all? Well, thanks to a group of Harvard researchers, that opinion of ours is sure going to change soon. Flies, for all that you can imagine, may soon transform the entire business of spying.

flying robot

These researchers have successfully created the world's first flying robotic insect. The technology is so sophisticated that some parts used in the insect are not even visible and are cut using lasers. The carbon fiber robotic insect weighs just 60 milligrams and has a wingspan of three centimeters.

Researchers have modeled the movement of the insect on those of a real fly. Researchers hope that such machines can one day be used for spying operations. Using these miniscule robots for spying requires some work to be done and we cannot expect them any time too soon.

botfly

Researchers are confident that such objects can be successful in spying operations because one never notices a fly that might even be hovering right above your head, but you surely will notice a hawk that has entered your work place.

The first flight of the robotic insect reminds us of the Wright Brothers who showed a way to fly humans; this one is a bit different - it has shown a possible way by which robots can fly.

These Harvard researchers will have to put some more effort into this machine because till now they need a two-wired tethered cable to prevent it from flying all over the place. The final aim will be to develop a robot of the same size but that can be controlled via a remote control. Finally, these researchers also hope to develop flying machines that could sniff out toxic chemicals and such materials. This will however need Herculean efforts from the researchers...!

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Via: Gizmodo