Undertoad Tuesday Jul 31 12:07 PMJuly 31, 2007: Mechanical housefly
xoB, who also found yesterday's image but got no credit for it (belated thanks), sends along this item from Technology Review. Harvard researchers have developed the world's first mechanical housefly.
Quote:
A life-size, robotic fly has taken flight at Harvard University. Weighing only 60 milligrams, with a wingspan of three centimeters, the tiny robot's movements are modeled on those of a real fly. While much work remains to be done on the mechanical insect, the researchers say that such small flying machines could one day be used as spies, or for detecting harmful chemicals.
"Nature makes the world's best fliers," says Robert Wood, leader of Harvard's robotic-fly project and a professor at the university's school of engineering and applied sciences.
The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is funding Wood's research in the hope that it will lead to stealth surveillance robots for the battlefield and urban environments. The robot's small size and fly-like appearance are critical to such missions. "You probably wouldn't notice a fly in the room, but you certainly would notice a hawk," Wood says.
|
Luckily the same simple aluminum foil used to combat government mind rays can be used against this beast. Just attach the foil to the end of your fly-swatter, and bam!
yesman065 Tuesday Jul 31 12:20 PM That is awesome - "Will it be available in time for christmas? I wanna fly it around my kids heads in the morning.
Uisge Beatha Tuesday Jul 31 12:20 PMLet's see, we go from technology fighting natural pests to technology creating them. Perhaps the next logical step is for nature to fight our pests. Wouldn't it be funny (yet sad in terms of the wasted expense) for a mechanical insect spy to be slammed out of action by an animal's tail?
Flint Tuesday Jul 31 12:35 PM
Quote:
...researchers say that such small flying machines could one day be used as spies, or for detecting harmful chemicals.
|
Real, live wasps are also being trained as chemical detectors (admittedly, not while in flight).
spudcon Tuesday Jul 31 01:53 PMI think I saw several of those spying on my dog's poop.
xoxoxoBruce Tuesday Jul 31 03:27 PMWhat have you been feeding that dog... or is this a case of the government stirring up shit?
rkzenrage Tuesday Jul 31 07:04 PMThis is just what all the paranoid skitzos in the world need... oh yeah... "they have robot houseflies with cameras on them... and probably CHEMICALS TOO!!!" oh yeah... just what they fucking need... oh... wait....
Weird Harold Wednesday Aug 1 06:36 AMSo somebody woke up one morning, and said to themselves, "I don't think there are enough flies in the world. Let's make more."
We are getting new window installed in our house, and most of the world's fly population is in my house right now. I wonder how many of them are spying on me right now, and reporting my subversive behavior.
Uisge Beatha Wednesday Aug 1 08:20 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Weird Harold
I wonder how many of them are spying on me right now, and reporting my subversive behavior.
|
Dammit! Bravo-1-9, we have been made. Recall the surveillance drones. Over.
Sheldonrs Wednesday Aug 1 02:06 PMCan you catch robot fish with it?
dar512 Thursday Aug 2 10:36 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sheldonrs
Can you catch robot fish with it?
|
<obscure Philip K. Dick reference>No, but they can be eaten by mechanical frogs.</Dick>
TheMercenary Thursday Aug 2 01:29 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Uisge Beatha
Dammit! Bravo-1-9, we have been made. Recall the surveillance drones. Over.
|
I do believe that subject is being explored.
Anada Tuesday Aug 7 05:45 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Weird Harold
So somebody woke up one morning, and said to themselves, "I don't think there are enough flies in the world. Let's make more."
We are getting new window installed in our house, and most of the world's fly population is in my house right now. I wonder how many of them are spying on me right now, and reporting my subversive behavior.
|
That is exactly what I thought when I saw the title of this thread... maybe scientists are getting ready for when finally all flies die and bees and wasps...and they need to use robots to carry polen from flower to flower...
rkzenrage Tuesday Aug 7 06:06 AMSpy-fly is watching you masturbate.
rkzenrage Tuesday Aug 7 06:08 AMSpy-fly's servos are clogged with... *crash*
Your reply here?
The Cellar Image of the Day is just a section of a larger web community: a bunch of interesting folks talking about everything. Add your two cents to IotD by joining the Cellar.
|