Scientists at a robotics laboratory at the National University of Defence Technology (NUDT) in central China’s Hunan province recently unveiled a tiny insect-like drone suitable for surveillance and reconnaissance missions.
Revealed to the general public on CCTV 7 (China Central Television’s military channel), the tiny drone featured flapping wings and hair-thin legs, making it almost indistinguishable from real insects. They have the potential to revolutionise various industries and applications thanks to their tiny size, which allows them to access virtually any space and blend into all sorts of environments undetected. Although marketed primarily as a perfect candidate for military reconnaissance missions, many believe that it could be used by the Chinese government for surveillance purposes.
The drone showcased on CCTV7 measured only 1.3 centimeters and could easily be controlled via a smartphone. It had leaf-like wings, three tiny legs, and was much quieter than regular drones. Their creators believe they are nearly impossible to detect and can perform a variety of functions, from accessing hard-to-reach spaces in case of disasters, to monitoring the air quality with attached sensors.
Although these tiny mosquito-like drones went viral on Chinese social media, they do have some obvious limitations. Their reduced size is an important feature, but it’s also a weak point, because battery life is severely limited, as is the number and weight of sensors and other equippable accessories.
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