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Epson Creates Tiny Flying Robot

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the really-expensive-remote-control-helicopters dept.

xyote writes "As reported by the Inquirer. More info on Epson's website with a nice picture with explanatory labels and all. It weighs a little over 10g, uses an 'ultra-thin ultrasonic' motor and Bluetooth for remote control." Epson is using the robot to showcase their micromechatronics technology, and by exhibiting it, they hope to discover and test problems with using robots in three dimensions.

2 of 261 comments (clear)

  1. Where does the power come from? by comnenos · · Score: 5, Insightful

    In the picture at the Epson site, it looks like there are power lines running off of the unit. The description makes no mention of having a battery attached to it. So yeah, maybe you have wireless control, but what's the point when you're tethered anyways?

  2. Re:Featured Use? by MAJ+Rantage · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Believe it or not, the military does do things besides blow up stuff.

    Probably the first use the military would consider for these does not involve combat, but rather reconnaissance. An earlier post jokingly advised putting an X10 cam on one of these, but such a capability is exactly what would benefit both peacekeepers and police forces in urban areas. Much cheaper than a UAV, these things could hover over rooftops to see areas held by insurgents to avoid further bloodshed.

    Modified flying bots could also be used to detect mines, explosive residue, and chemical or biological agents.

    So perhaps before you jump on the soldiers-are-babykillers bandwagon, you should consider how the military can (and does) leverage cutting edge technology to save lives.