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Robotic Fly to Descend on New York

Posted by Zonk on from the now-you-can-be-the-fly-on-the-wall dept.

DeviceGuru writes "Harvard University's tiny microrobotic fly, hailed by its creators as 'the first robotic fly that is able to generate enough thrust to takeoff,' will be showcased at New York's Museum of Modern Art starting Feb. 24. The life-sized 'Flybot' reportedly has a wingspan of 1.2 inches (3 cm) and weighs a mere 0.002 ounces (60 mg). This project of the Harvard University Microbotics Lab has received funding from DARPA, the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, which hopes to gain access to micro-miniature surveillance technologies."

138 comments

  1. Won't be long now by KublaiKhan · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The expression "I wish I was a fly on the wall when $EVENT happened" is soon to become reality...

    --
    In Xanadu did Kubla Khan
    A stately pleasure dome decree
    1. Re:Won't be long now by Lumpy · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Bringing the rise of a new expression...

      "I wish my fly on the wall had batteries that lasted more than 15 minutes!"

      I don't care how small they make it, until it has hours of power in it, it's nothing but a expensive toy.

      --
      Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
    2. Re:Won't be long now by HTH+NE1 · · Score: 1, Interesting

      The expression "I wish I was a fly on the wall when $EVENT happened" is soon to become reality... Would you believe 20 minutes into the future?

      Carter: What I wouldn't give to be a fly on that boardroom wall.
      Bryce: Well, you can if you like.
      Carter: What?
      Cheviot: ...got to stop this now!...
      Carter: Bryce, what is this?
      Bryce: Oh, it's a bug. Well, a fly, actually. It was my graduation project when I was eleven.
      Carter: A mechanical fly?
      --
      Oh, say does that Star-Spangled Banner entwine / The myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's vine?
    3. Re:Won't be long now by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And security on these things can't be THAT robust, giving a whole, new meaning to the phrase"

      "Your fly is open!"

    4. Re:Won't be long now by KublaiKhan · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I mentioned in a comment down the page a bit that by the time they get a decent avionics package scaled for the thing, all that broadcast power research that folks keep talking about will have caught on, at least a little bit.

      Or perhaps they could take a leaf from that UAV design that was in the news a while ago that would supposedly leech power from distribution lines--a similar idea, but scaled down to fly size. You wouldn't need more than a few microwatts to power a fly, I shouldn't think, and you could probably get that from induction by sitting on a lamp cord or something.

      --
      In Xanadu did Kubla Khan
      A stately pleasure dome decree
    5. Re:Won't be long now by XHIIHIIHX · · Score: 0

      They do this by sucking induction current off your household electricity like your cordless toothbrush. Some of them can recharge from a household outlet as well.

    6. Re:Won't be long now by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah. Getting more than 10min of flight time from a Picooz (or similar) would be a bigger advancement. The Lipo always seems to die just about when you get the hang of it. Powering micro-aircraft is still the biggest hurdle.

      Wowee toys has a working dragonfly that anyone can buy already, so man-made replication of insect flight dynamics isn't that new. I guess the scaling-down part of it is, but getting the power and reciever on a unit that could be carried by fly-sized piezo-actuated wings still needs to be worked out.

  2. This Revolutionizes Woody Allen's Comedy by eldavojohn · · Score: 3, Funny

    Woody Allen: Waiter, there is a DARPA robotic fly in my soup!
    Waiter: Don't worry sir that GRU robotic spider on your bread will soon get him!

    --
    My work here is dung.
    1. Re:This Revolutionizes Woody Allen's Comedy by KublaiKhan · · Score: 4, Interesting

      An amusing notion, but keep in mind where the endpoint for this lies. There's two possible routes, as far as I can see:

      First is the Diamond Age route, where the 'bots go smaller and smaller until they get to the nanoscale, and we end up with 'toner' everywhere.

      The second is building a spider to catch the fly, building a bird to catch the spider, building a cat to catch the bird, et al., until you get up to the point where you're making little old ladies swallow equines to take care of a surveillance bug.

      --
      In Xanadu did Kubla Khan
      A stately pleasure dome decree
    2. Re:This Revolutionizes Woody Allen's Comedy by morgan_greywolf · · Score: 1

      point where you're making little old ladies swallow equines How is a little old lady going to swallow a HORSE .... ? oh, I get .... ewwww....you're sick!
      --
      My blog
    3. Re:This Revolutionizes Woody Allen's Comedy by sm62704 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Waiter: "Ssh! Don't tell anyone, everyone will want one!"

      --
      mcgrew's razor: Never attribute to stupidity that which can be explained by greedy self-interest
    4. Re:This Revolutionizes Woody Allen's Comedy by postbigbang · · Score: 1

      Nah, we just use cellphone jammers to drop these damn flies; it worked great for Gordon Brown and that pesky 757 that flew overhead at Heathrow the other day.....

      --
      ---- Teach Peace. It's Cheaper Than War.
    5. Re:This Revolutionizes Woody Allen's Comedy by $RANDOMLUSER · · Score: 1

      There was an old lady who swallowed a horse--
      She's dead, of course.

      --
      No folly is more costly than the folly of intolerant idealism. - Winston Churchill
    6. Re:This Revolutionizes Woody Allen's Comedy by Welshalian · · Score: 1

      'bots go smaller and smaller until they get to the nanoscale, and we end up with 'toner' everywhere
      Sounds like the plot of Prey by Michael Crichton.
    7. Re:This Revolutionizes Woody Allen's Comedy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Or we could just open a window and wait for a gust of wind...

    8. Re:This Revolutionizes Woody Allen's Comedy by Petaris · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Take that one step beyond surveillance, it probably doesn't take much verve toxin on a tiny needle (fly bite anyone?) to kill a person. :/

      I know that this could be a bit paranoid of me to think this but then, perhaps not? :(

      --
      ~Petaris "The world is open. Are you?"
    9. Re:This Revolutionizes Woody Allen's Comedy by Petaris · · Score: 1

      s/verve/nerve oops! And I even used preview. :(

      --
      ~Petaris "The world is open. Are you?"
    10. Re:This Revolutionizes Woody Allen's Comedy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      how about an air filter, hepa?

    11. Re:This Revolutionizes Woody Allen's Comedy by Kingrames · · Score: 1

      "where you're making little old ladies swallow equines"

      Please, Jeez. Leave your sick little fantasies out of this.

      --
      If you can read this, I forgot to post anonymously.
    12. Re:This Revolutionizes Woody Allen's Comedy by Thing+1 · · Score: 1

      Take that one step beyond surveillance, it probably doesn't take much verve toxin on a tiny needle (fly bite anyone?) to kill a person. :/

      I know that this could be a bit paranoid of me to think this but then, perhaps not? :(

      Hopefully, not.

      Once we achieve full molecular nanotechnology, we'll be able to create backups of ourselves. "I" will be a construct somewhere deep within the Earth; the body you see will just be an extension, with a large-bandwidth wireless connection between us, so that the body can send back all the sensations -- and thoughts (as it's probably better to have it think for itself, than risk loss of the body due to lag), so that there would be a complete backup.

      So if the unfortunate happened, say a poisonous fly wandered through the window and took out the body, "I" would have a complete record of what happened, including perhaps identifying characteristics of the fly so that I can take appropriate action.

      "Appropriate action" in the future might not even involve the courts: you killed me, I saw how, I'll do a better job of protecting from that vector of attack in the future. It's a bit to wrap your head around but if you've played Dungeons and Dragons or other RPGs, or even merely Halo where death means you start back a bit, you'll understand. Life will imitate art.

      So it won't matter if you die, however spectacularly. Expect to see a lot of exploratory deaths after about 15 years, possibly sooner. Fear of poisonous flies will disappear, as it will be only a temporary inconvenience.

      And so what if they go after the construct? Well, it'll be backed up too, on other locations on Earth, then throughout the solar system and eventually the galaxy and then the universe. We're here to stay. :)

      --
      I feel fantastic, and I'm still alive.
  3. Good bye privacy by DeeQ · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Welcome Big brother!

    1. Re:Good bye privacy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This will allow stricter monitoring of goddamn hippy protesters. This could be a good thing.

      Just kidding. I hope it's used to spy on criminals.

    2. Re:Good bye privacy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I hope it's used to spy on government officials and secret boardroom dealings.

      Seriously, I'm beginning to think that's only thing that will save our civilization from the evil sociopaths in positions of power ... the knowledge that everything they do and say might be open to public surveillance and scrutiny. I'm actually willing to give up every last shred of my privacy if it also means the end of state secrets, evil backroom dealings, etc.

    3. Re:Good bye privacy by SueAnnSueAnn · · Score: 1, Funny

      i just read the exibit was canceled.
      The robotic fly was eaten by their robotic cat.

    4. Re:Good bye privacy by Skuld-Chan · · Score: 1

      I dunno - I'm sure these will get smaller, but this thing has a 1.2 inch wingspan - thats a hurking big fly.

    5. Re:Good bye privacy by plague3106 · · Score: 1

      Why should we give up our privacy though? I'm all in favor of different rules for our "leaders."

    6. Re:Good bye privacy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why should we give up our privacy though?

      Because we live inn a world that's governed by what is realistic.

      It is not realistic to expect a group of sociopaths to willingly subject themselves to a higher standard of scrutiny and accountability compared to the rest of the population. In fact, we have ample evidence that they feel they are less accountable for their actions than the people they represent. If your objective is to turn a bright light on a bunch of cockroaches, you don't let the cockroaches write the rule book on how light switches operate.

      It is however realistic to expect that surveillance technology will one day become so cheap and unobtrusive that absolutely everyone is subjected to the same set of rules: i.e. no privacy whatsoever.

    7. Re:Good bye privacy by Henneshoe · · Score: 1

      I am pretty sure a surveillance device as small and mobile as a fly would not end up in the public sector anytime soon. If it did, every pedo in the world would save up to buy one so they could use it in some elementary school bathroom. If/Once it does enter the public sector, some sort of device will be invented to detect/disable it. Every government official would carry one of these detection devices; if for no other reason, to protect national security. Expanding that argument, I don't think any technological device will give you the transparency you desire.

    8. Re:Good bye privacy by Henneshoe · · Score: 1

      Works well for spying in the Amazon!

    9. Re:Good bye privacy by plague3106 · · Score: 1

      It is not realistic to expect a group of sociopaths to willingly subject themselves to a higher standard of scrutiny and accountability compared to the rest of the population.

      I certainly find it reasonable. The idea being that if said scrutiny was in place, it would discourage sociopaths from taking the job at all.

      In fact, we have ample evidence that they feel they are less accountable for their actions than the people they represent. If your objective is to turn a bright light on a bunch of cockroaches, you don't let the cockroaches write the rule book on how light switches operate.

      If a majority of people felt as I did, I think they'd be compelled to writing the law as we want.

      It is however realistic to expect that surveillance technology will one day become so cheap and unobtrusive that absolutely everyone is subjected to the same set of rules: i.e. no privacy whatsoever.

      The technology has nothing to do with my point; it could be used to remove everyone's privacy, I was just advocating that we don't let it be used that way, unless you're talking about the "cockroaches."

    10. Re:Good bye privacy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "every pedo in the world would save up to buy one so they could use it in some elementary school bathroom."

      And then, because he lives in a world of ubiquitous surveillance, he would in turn be quickly discovered peeping at little boys using this device. He would then be held accountable to whatever laws or norms are in existence in that society.

    11. Re:Good bye privacy by dotancohen · · Score: 1

      Welcome Big brother! I, for one, OH FUCK IT!
      --
      It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.
    12. Re:Good bye privacy by darkfire5252 · · Score: 1

      I would tend to agree. That thought occurred to me while I was reading a book on trusted computing implementation. Why don't we, as the public that the officials are payed by and purport to serve, mandate that public officials must use trusted computers that log their actions while under web-accessible surveillance? Seems fair, if other employers can do that, why can't the employers of the State do it?

    13. Re:Good bye privacy by Vitriol+Angst · · Score: 1

      I expect they will sell the fly,
      and sell and expensive RFID tracker to defend the "important people" from the public actually finding out what you are up to.

      Sure, my grocery store gets to probe me up the wazoo and put it all in a database -- but I don't get to hear what's going on in ENRON's board meeting.

      The laws are creating more privacy rights for business, in the guise of "trade secrets" -- so, if YOU do it to the people with power, watch out. However, this should still provide an advantage, because someone spying on the corporations and governments, would be interested in releasing the information to inform the public. So it makes it easier to stay anonymous.

      I'd expect that after a few really embarrassing releases to the public, however, there will be a drastic need to "protect the children" from anonymous video. Any service provider that distributes a video not watermarked with a person's ID to show authorship will be fined or lose their license. The Transparent Society will be a fight every step of the way. The folks in power, do not want anyone in the public to be anonymous, so that they can retaliate and protect their own interests.

      --
      >>"ad space available -- low rates!!!"
    14. Re:Good bye privacy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sounds like a good idea to me. Let's start with the politicians: Every congressman, senator, president, and cabinet member is required to wear a camera and microphone 24/7 (yes, even in the bathroom and the bedroom), with 100% of the footage posted publicly on the Internet in real time (uncensored, deal with it) and archived forever. You want to rule the country? Sure, you just have to give up your privacy. Sounds like a fair trade to me. Later we can extend it to CEOs and officers of publicly traded companies above a certain size.

      Only problem is, the politicians would never vote for it.

  4. /.ed by legoman666 · · Score: 1

    That was quick. Extra text to take up time.

  5. I don't know what kind of flies they have in NY... by davidbrit2 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    ...But a fly with a 1.2 inch wingspan would be pretty damn conspicuous where I come from.

  6. oh man by noobstate · · Score: 0

    i cant wait till im taking a piss and i see one of these little fuckers flying about knowing the government is watching over me incase a bear decides to fuck me in the back of the head while im dick in hand

    awesome

    n if they become really cheap and like stable and purchasable i cant wait to fly them over autonomously over the perimeter of ma house (aka moms basement) u know just encase robbers come to get me n shit

    1. Re:oh man by somersault · · Score: 1

      I doubt it will be the government trying to protect you from bears, it's more likely to be some guy on pervypeewatchers.com checking you out

      --
      which is totally what she said
  7. Robofly/robot-humanoid teleporter accident by davidwr · · Score: 2, Funny

    I can't wait for the robot-themed remake of The Fly.

    --
    Knowledge is how to play a game, intelligence is how to win, wisdom is knowing what game to play.
  8. But... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...aren't flys by definition supposed to ascend?

    1. Re:But... by InvisblePinkUnicorn · · Score: 1

      Late at night in cars on certain corners throughout New York, flies descend en masse.

  9. better yet, politicians by davidwr · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Now maybe we really can have open government.

    --
    Knowledge is how to play a game, intelligence is how to win, wisdom is knowing what game to play.
  10. No worries... by Radon360 · · Score: 3, Funny

    They are coming out with an equivalent cockroach version in a couple of months. The next generation "fruit fly" model is expected to be available in late 2010.

    1. Re:No worries... by TitusC3v5 · · Score: 1

      They are coming out with an equivalent cockroach version in a couple of months. The next generation "fruit fly" model is expected to be available in late 2010.

      You can see the initial prototype here.

      --
      And the masses cried out, "09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0!"
    2. Re:No worries... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They call the robotic cockroach "The exTerminator". (Wouldn't it be great if you could send a robot to kill the pesky insects inside of their hiding places in the walls?)

      Unfortunately, the scientists will find out what it likes to "EX-TER-MIN-ATE"! right AFTER the Daleks land!

  11. Sarah Connor is pissed! by jameskojiro · · Score: 2, Funny

    She showed up the other day and put a few bullets in my Sony AIBO, My RoboSapien, and My LEGO mindstorm robot. She was mumbling something about a robot fly in NYC and skynet. I would be carefull you scientists, or she might be comming for you next.

    --
    Tsukasa: All I really want, is to be left alone...
    1. Re:Sarah Connor is pissed! by antdude · · Score: 1

      Thanks for the spoilers for the future Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles episode. [grin]

      --
      Ant(Dude) @ Quality Foraged Links (AQFL.net) & The Ant Farm (antfarm.ma.cx / antfarm.home.dhs.org).
  12. I've got $5 (or better, 5 Euros) that says.... by zappepcs · · Score: 1

    Within 6 months, the Spy Store has a portable EMP generator to rid you of any flying spy devices. It will look like an odd cellphone and work like a radar gun that the police use.

    zzzzzzZZZzzttttt and the 'fly' becomes a lay still and collect dust

    --
    Support NYCountryLawyer RIAA vs People
  13. Re:I don't know what kind of flies they have in NY by SQLGuru · · Score: 1

    The summary said lifesize, so what about:

    Horsefly, Dragonfly, or some of the ones on this list: http://www.whatsthatbug.com/flies.html

    Layne

  14. Site's dead...already!!! by JKSN17 · · Score: 0

    The article has only been up for alittle over 10 minutes and it's already /.ed

  15. Domestic "Fly" Surveillance by Dareth · · Score: 4, Funny

    They won't tell us when they start domestic "Fly" surveillance in the US. We will have to guess it will be sometime shortly before or after they outlaw flyswatters.

    I hope I don't get billed for all the lost government property that is swallowed by my cats!

    --

    I only look human.
    My mother is a halfling and my dad is an ogre, so that makes me an Ogreling
    1. Re:Domestic "Fly" Surveillance by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Don't worry about it. Wind is still an unconquered challenge in this respect.

    2. Re:Domestic "Fly" Surveillance by dkleinsc · · Score: 1

      Obvious solution to this problem: White House webcams.

      --
      I am officially gone from /. Long live http://www.soylentnews.com/
    3. Re:Domestic "Fly" Surveillance by shadowbearer · · Score: 1

      I hope I don't get billed for all the lost government property that is swallowed by my cats!

        You can bet that your vet will bill you for extracting indigestible electronics from their intestinal tracts, tho. :)

        Then the FBI shows up at your door...

      SB

      --
      It's old. The more humans I meet, the more I like my cats. At least they are honest.
    4. Re:Domestic "Fly" Surveillance by shadowbearer · · Score: 1

      Bad form to reply to myself, I know, but anyone who is owned by cats knows about the chore of scooping out the cat boxes.

        One morning you're scooping them out, and you see a gleam of metal in a feces. Your first thought is "What *is* that?"

        Your second thought after dissecting the feces is "Hey, didn't I read about these on Slashdot a few years ago? Shit!" ... sorry

      SB

      --
      It's old. The more humans I meet, the more I like my cats. At least they are honest.
  16. Oblig. horror movie: by sm62704 · · Score: 0

    "Help me! Help me!"

    --
    mcgrew's razor: Never attribute to stupidity that which can be explained by greedy self-interest
  17. Cr@p! Sorry everyone! by cliffiecee · · Score: 5, Informative

    I just tried to visit the site again and triggered the old 'Bandwidth Exceeded' message. My bad....

    Yes, the little flybot does appear to work, although a) it's powererd externally, and b) it's on rails that only allow it to move vertically. The narrator of the video admits that [paraphrasing] "We're missing some things, like an independent, on-board electronics package to control it, and a suitable power source." Basically it's just a pair of (working) wings at this point.

    1. Re:Cr@p! Sorry everyone! by Avatar8 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Exactly. From the description of the more complicated systems they still have to develop, I think they'd be better off working on micro cameras that a fly can carry and developing a way to control the fly's behavior (where to fly, when to land,etc.). Something more like the cockroach in "Fifth Element."

    2. Re:Cr@p! Sorry everyone! by Ed+Avis · · Score: 4, Funny

      It's on rails? Why on earth haven't there been fifty Slashdot stories already?

      --
      -- Ed Avis ed@membled.com
    3. Re:Cr@p! Sorry everyone! by EB+FE · · Score: 1

      Wouldn't be too good for spying with all those wires leading to a van outside your house.

      --
      Vital papers will demonstrate their vitality by moving to where you can't find them.
    4. Re:Cr@p! Sorry everyone! by davido42 · · Score: 1

      Wait, lemme guess.. it's on rails and it's named Ruby.

      --

      BitWorksMusic.com -- odd tunes for odd times

    5. Re:Cr@p! Sorry everyone! by shadowbearer · · Score: 1
      developing a way to control the fly's behavior (where to fly, when to land,etc.)



      Laser Guided Drones



      SB

      --
      It's old. The more humans I meet, the more I like my cats. At least they are honest.
    6. Re:Cr@p! Sorry everyone! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      LOL. :P

  18. Oblig by $RANDOMLUSER · · Score: 4, Funny

    Customer: Waiter, what's this fly doing in my soup?

    Waiter: Watching your every move.

    --
    No folly is more costly than the folly of intolerant idealism. - Winston Churchill
  19. A better showplace... by Ancient_Hacker · · Score: 2, Interesting
    Maybe a better venue would be to show it at The Museum Of Modern Fascism.

    On the other hand, your basic laws of scaling are going to be an effective law to limit the usefulness of these gadgets. The battery power goes down as the cube, while the air resistance is at least one power below that, so they're going to be mighty short-lived, like seconds rather than minutes.

    1. Re:A better showplace... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      On the other hand, your basic laws of scaling are going to be an effective law to limit the usefulness of these gadgets. The battery power goes down as the cube, while the air resistance is at least one power below that, so they're going to be mighty short-lived, like seconds rather than minutes. It's worth noting that a biological fly can keep going for a rather long time using only its internal energy store. What I mean is that there is no law of physics that prevents a device that small from having enough on-board energy to fly around for quite awhile (maybe an hour?), and also have on-board logic and recording capabilities.

      Of course, I fully agree that modern micronization of batteries, circuits, and wings is not up to the task. This does put into perspective how spectacularly optimized biological organisms are. On the other hand, it suggests that eventually our technology may indeed be able to generate autonomous fly-sized surveillance devices.
    2. Re:A better showplace... by KublaiKhan · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Keep in mind that another area of research that's getting attention at the moment is broadcast power--so you wouldn't have to have an onboard source, per se, but merely a collector to snag a couple microwatts from the local broadcast basestation. It'll probably take about as long for 'wireless' power like that to become popular as it'll take to develop an effective avionics package for the flybot, so that'll work out nicely.

      --
      In Xanadu did Kubla Khan
      A stately pleasure dome decree
    3. Re:A better showplace... by Quadraginta · · Score: 1

      Yeah, but isn't your inverse square law going to kill you? I mean, unless you're sitting 100 meters away from your flybot, aiming a 6-inch microwave dish antenna at it, trying to look innocent...

    4. Re:A better showplace... by Quadraginta · · Score: 1

      So why re-invent the wheel? I'd say you're better off learning how to "reprogram" flies by fiddling with their DNA than trying to re-invent the whole mechanism with silicon and aluminum.

      The best benefit is that the tricky and expensive process of initial manufacture is taken care of for you, at very minimal cost (a warm box with water and sticky disgusting stuff to eat is all you need).

    5. Re:A better showplace... by Boronx · · Score: 1

      Just wait until real flies evolve to live off of broadcast power.

      --
      Play Command HQ online
  20. Yay for robotic insect surveillance! by Chris+Johnson · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I like this- I've written one of these into a book. I had it powered by a broadcast infrared beam aimed at it, and a character fools with it by blocking the beam, causes it to falter, and then is embarrassed because he was caught interfering with it while it was working :)

    If the surveillance culture thing bothers you, keep working on cracker tech so we can always tap into the wireless signal and decode it. Information restriction is going to be impossible. Information parity is where it's at (though it's not going to be a gift- it's probably always going to be a captured prize.) This will tend to create an 'information serf class' which gets lied to by people who are confident they won't be able to sort out the truth.

    Oh wait, got that. I mean in fields like medici.. oh wait. Well... more so :)

    1. Re:Yay for robotic insect surveillance! by spydink · · Score: 1
      These articles always remind me of the Invisible Boy from the 1970s Danny Dunn children's series.

      I can't wait to dig out my collection once my kids are old enough to read them.

      Danny Dunn, Invisible Boy

      partial wiki excerpt:

      ISIT (the Invisibility Simulator with Intromittent Transmission)
      The ISIT probe resembles a dragonfly. The wings are used to collect microwave energy, which is beamed to it within a range of 2,500 yards. Flight is accomplished with jets of compressed air (it is not stated if the wings flap). Feet on the unit are capable of grasping as well.

      The control system for ISIT is a virtual reality helmet and gauntlet gloves. Visual and auditory information is relayed through the helmet, while control is handled through the gauntlets. Operators receive tactile sensation feedback.
      --
      Always be sincere, whether you mean it or not.
  21. Re:Obligatory.... by sm62704 · · Score: 1, Funny

    I, for one, welcome our duplicate comment overlords

    --
    mcgrew's razor: Never attribute to stupidity that which can be explained by greedy self-interest
  22. Now there's one for the record books by HangingChad · · Score: 1

    ...the first robotic fly that is able to generate enough thrust to takeoff.

    If that one was the first it makes one wonder just how many robotic fly failures came before. And where are the spectacular crash videos? Like the ones from the early days of spaceflight.

    Yes, a truly proud chapter in the technological advancement of mankind. The day scientists huddled around their robotic fly and it spread its tiny, robotic wings and generated enough thrust to launch itself into history!

    Quick! We need to book Ron Howard to direct a movie about this amazing stride in mechanical locomotion. Kids everywhere will grow up dreaming of inventing even better robotic insects. Someone cast a commemorative coin!

    --
    That's our life, the big wheel of shit. - The Fat Man, Blue Tango Salvage
    1. Re:Now there's one for the record books by Avatar8 · · Score: 1

      Funny comments, but it makes me wonder. Isn't this really deserving of a world record for the smallest, mechanical device flying under its own power (as in thrust, not the external power source).

  23. When it crashes ... by trolltalk.com · · Score: 3, Funny

    ... Your fly is down!

    --
    Kevin Smith on Prince
  24. Re:I don't know what kind of flies they have in NY by sesshomaru · · Score: 1
    Danny Dunn, Invisible Boy

    Danny exacerbates a small electrical fire, altering an experimental crystalline semiconductor material Dr. Bullfinch was evaluating. Dr. Bullfinch is able to use this altered material to create ISIT (the Invisibility Simulator with Intromittent Transmission), a dragonfly-like probe which could be piloted with a virtual reality helmet and gauntlet gloves.
    -- first published in 1974
    --
    "MIT betrayed all of its basic principles."
  25. Life size? by captaindomon · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Three centimeters wingspan is life-size? What kind of flies are they referring to? That's a pretty big fly. A real accomplishment would be a life-size, US house fly, ~0.5 centimeter wingspan.

    --
    Just because I can hook a shark from a boat, I do no offer to wrestle it in the water.
    1. Re:Life size? by RobertB-DC · · Score: 1

      Three centimeters wingspan is life-size? What kind of flies are they referring to? That's a pretty big fly.

      You should get out of the city more often. We swat 1-inch horseflies whenever we see them, because they bite the horses (and us, if we're slow enough) and spread Equine Infectious Anemia (aka "Swamp Fever", or frequently "Coggins" after the test used to detect it).

      If someone saw an inch-and-a-half specimen, they'd just think it was a little overgrown. Of course, normally when you smash one they splatter blood (yours, or your horse's) all over the place. Not sure what an old-time horseman would do if it looked back at him with Terminator-style red eyes after a swattin'.

      --
      Stressed? Me? Of course not. Stress is what a rubber band feels before it breaks, silly.
    2. Re:Life size? by rhartness · · Score: 1

      Have you ever seen a Horse-fly?

    3. Re:Life size? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes, but I've hever seen a house fly!

    4. Re:Life size? by Mesa+MIke · · Score: 1

      ...they tell me that a man made a vegetable truck...
      </Dumbo>

  26. um.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ..they are probably running some kind of microsoft software cause thats one big ass fly!

  27. Fly? by Bogtha · · Score: 3, Funny

    the first robotic fly that is able to generate enough thrust to takeoff

    So presumably its predecessors were called robotic walks then?

    --
    Bogtha Bogtha Bogtha
  28. In all seriousness... by Paranatural · · Score: 1

    This could end up being really interesting.

    Crawling spider bots to check out the lays of buildings before the riot police go in, floating swimming robots to watch water pollution levels, I could even see them being used in pest prevention, using little robot drones to kill off unwanted pests. Sort of like Terminator, but for bugs.

    The real question is how are they gonna power these suckers?

    1. Re:In all seriousness... by icebones · · Score: 1

      you mean like the ones they had in Minority Report?

      --
      Life is pain. Anyone who says differently is selling something.
  29. The Character of Americans by Wylfing · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I am sure the comments will be flooded with alarmists screeching about black helicopter secret governments. I have a different opinion.

    I cannot imagine that any truly great surveillance technology (such as tiny robotic flies) won't be used for selfish purposes -- by all layers of American society. You know your manager wants to spy on you, why not spy on your manager if there's no chance of getting caught? Get some nice juicy dirt! Back-room dirty deals among politicians? It's on Youtube now!

    It's hard to accept, but we're hurtling toward a privacy-free society, including corporate board-rooms, Congressional meetings, NDAs (forget em), and whatever you do in your garage on Thursday nights.

    --
    Our intelligent designer has never created an animal that we couldn't improve by strapping a bomb to it.
    1. Re:The Character of Americans by Fantastic+Lad · · Score: 1
      You know your manager wants to spy on you, why not spy on your manager if there's no chance of getting caught? Get some nice juicy dirt! Back-room dirty deals among politicians? It's on Youtube now!

      We already know who the criminals are. It IS all on Youtube. The sad fact of the matter remains, however, that the bad guys have all the guns and write all the laws and hold all the prison keys.

      The criminals are still running the show and the jails are overwhelmingly filled with poor people. And anyway, robot flies are silly when you can listen in on conversations on the other side of the city using the array of other various technologies which have been around for years now.

      Sorry. I recognize that your post is meant to be hopeful, but I think the solutions lie in other areas.


      -FL

    2. Re:The Character of Americans by CompMD · · Score: 1

      No, the character of Americans is better expressed by saying, "I'll do whatever I want in my garage on Thursday nights, and if you have a problem with it, you can take it up with my HERF gun or my Glock."

      Yes, I am an American.

    3. Re:The Character of Americans by Henneshoe · · Score: 1

      Or you could just put a large Faraday Cage around your entire house. That should stop those pesky RC bugs.

    4. Re:The Character of Americans by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      We're already there if we're careless, and we will never be there if we aren't. The only thing that scares me are spy satellite. It's damn hard to get away from a stealth spy satellite.

  30. The Diamond Age... by Glog · · Score: 1

    ... is slowly descending upon us.

  31. EMP - just what we need in suburbia by wall0159 · · Score: 1

    "zzzzzzZZZzzttttt and the 'fly' becomes a lay still and collect dust"

    You can kiss goodbye all of your, and your neighbours' electronics (PC, phone, car, pacemaker)... ...and say hello to the lawsuit...

    1. Re:EMP - just what we need in suburbia by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So it's good for the economy too, excellent!

      The current method involving a Tesla coil and dynamite is expensive, noisy and detrimental to nearby human life...

    2. Re:EMP - just what we need in suburbia by jstoner · · Score: 1

      I just got a Deep Brain Stimulation implant, for treatment of Muscular Dystonia. Seems like a bad idea to have EMP when there are people walking around with wires in their brains. Might be deadly--hard to say. At the very least expensive--replacing the implants is no fun. One of those situations where you better hope you kill me, because you'll be on the business end of a lawsuit.

      --

      'In knowledge is power, in wisdom humility.'
    3. Re:EMP - just what we need in suburbia by icebones · · Score: 1

      scary thought, but I think your right. Also, what about people with pacemakers. Reminds me of the early scene of The Core. not something you want to have happening.

      --
      Life is pain. Anyone who says differently is selling something.
    4. Re:EMP - just what we need in suburbia by DaedalusHKX · · Score: 1

      Actually a solar powered burst teslacoil could do wonders for a cheap cost (all your electronics, etc), even on EM shielded variants that are soon to appear. I'm not sure if those will use mica, since mica is a bit rare and expensive at this point, but makes a phenomenal radiation shield for bunkers and paranoid individuals (more paranoid than I, methinks).

      Interesting times, indeed.

      --
      " What luck for rulers that men do not think" - Adolf Hitler
  32. The end of privacy by wall0159 · · Score: 1

    Hmm. Interesting idea

    Who would be prepared to sacrifice their personal privacy if it meant that all political/coporate interactions were public knowledge? Bribary, embezzlement, collusion... all could see the light of day..

    Hell, if that happened we might even get a free market!

    Unfortunately, I expect it might be a more one-sided loss of privacy in practice.

  33. Dragonfly by rindeee · · Score: 1

    Considering CIA built a working dragonfly *INT platform back in the 70's (scrapped due to poor performance in even the slightest breeze), I suspect that this is but the latest (publicly disclosed) generation of such devices currently in use.

    1. Re:Dragonfly by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Here's a link to a story with a picture of the dragonfly the cia worked with in the 70's. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18963401/
      Even if it didn't work very well, that was thirty years ago. I'm betting there's quite a gap of functionality between what we see and what has been developed. For the truly paranoid, here's an article that mentions sitings of such devices: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/08/AR2007100801434_pf.html

  34. The Tangible Reality of the Technology by bradgoodman · · Score: 5, Interesting

    You can call it "crap" all you want - but guess what! This technology is really on its way - is very real and tangible

    I'm both an engineer and an R/C heli/airplane fan - and I've been pretty amazed at the kind of stuff that's been coming available over just the last few years - and I'm not talking "scientific research" but even commercial products you can find at your local hobby store or mall.

    Lets look:

    Batteries Crazy advances in odd things like Li-Po batteries and "supercaps" which are very light, small, and can charge very quickly.

    Motors Brushless electric motors with much greater power and efficiency. People are literally ripping their gas engines out of their 60-sized helis and replacing them with electric motors and batteries!

    Radios Spread-Spectrum radios which provide operation free of glitches and interference.

    Wireless Video Probibly because of the new CCD stuff from WebCams and the like - there are a billion wireless video "toys" out even for little kids - RC cars with "spy cameras", VEX robotic kits, etc.

    Gyros They keep getting better and better - cheaper and cheaper -helping with stability

    Servos Or the lack of 'em! glue a tiny neodyme magnet on a piece of foam and wrap a wire around it a couple times to control you control surface! They sell tiny foam RC planes based on this

    Stable Helis Counter-rotating helis that are extremely stable - allowing a complete novice to fly indoors quickly. You can even buy one a Brookstones for $29!

    And of course the radios and electronics are of course getting smaller and more integrated. This is an amaizing time for this kind of stuff - I can't wait to see what the next few years will bring!

    1. Re:The Tangible Reality of the Technology by DebianDog · · Score: 1

      If you want to learn how to actually use gyros and fly these things with spread spectrum... we are all on http://helifreak.com/

    2. Re:The Tangible Reality of the Technology by Dr.+Evil · · Score: 1

      It's amazing stuff.

      This robotic fly has almost none of it. The little fly doesn't even have a control system. It's about as meaningful as a propeller that can't even support its own fuel. There aren't even control surfaces.

      The guys who put it together must be embarrassed at the media attention. Cool device, but not revolutionary or anything.

    3. Re:The Tangible Reality of the Technology by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Great invention! software

  35. The Big Brother issue is a minor. by EddyPearson · · Score: 1

    All the privicy issues inherent with this clever peice of $300,000+ machinary can be defeated through the cunning use of those electrified tennis rackets.

    --
    You feel sleepy. Close your eyes. The opinions stated above are yours. You cannot imagine why you ever felt otherwise.
    1. Re:The Big Brother issue is a minor. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's why I say they need to develop a giant steel box for spying. It will be indestructible. Noticeable, but indestructible.

  36. In Soviet Russia... by clam666 · · Score: 1

    ...robotic flies build you!

    --
    I'm a satanic clam.
  37. Alternate story URL by __aajbyc7391 · · Score: 1

    in case the DeviceGuru URL isn't working, try this one

  38. The Deus Machine by darkuncle · · Score: 1

    if you haven't read it, you should go give Pierre Oulette's first novel a shot ... it's a little dated on some of the technology concepts, but some of the biotech/GE stuff is still beyond us for the foreseeable future. If you find the idea of robot (or better yet, cyborg) flies or even larger, stranger creatures interesting (especially when designed/powered by a sentient AI), you would probably enjoy the book. Read it back when I was in high school, and just ordered a copy from Amazon to fill an empty spot in my bookshelf ...

    --
    illum oportet crescere me autem minui
    1. Re:The Deus Machine by darkuncle · · Score: 1

      s/Oulette/Ouellette/g

      pardon my French ...

      --
      illum oportet crescere me autem minui
  39. Annoying by planckscale · · Score: 1
    Forget using these things for surveillance, if we really want to get rid of insurgents, just annoy the fuck out of them with these bugs. Send a swarm of these heat/smell seekers into a town and watch as the muj's throw down their arms just to keep the little buggers out of their eyes, ears, nose, mouth and "other" orifices.

    --
    Namaste
  40. alternate URL: by __aajbyc7391 · · Score: 1

    in case the DeviceGuru story URL isn't working, please try this one.

  41. Hunter-seeker by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    How long before they build a hunter-seeker?

  42. Video Link by MrCopilot · · Score: 1
    Here is an unslahdotted video link.

    --
    OSGGFG - Open Source Gamers Guide to Free Games
    1. Re:Video Link by peektwice · · Score: 2, Informative

      And here's the real link

      --
      Other than this text, there is no discernible information contained in this sig.
  43. Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid by billstewart · · Score: 1

    The Jeff Goldblum version, not the Vincent Price version...

    --

    Bill Stewart
    New Fast-Compression-only CPR http://preview.tinyurl.com/dy575ks
  44. Why not jobs for REAL flies?? by thehatmaker · · Score: 0

    I'm surprised the US defense establishment need robot flies - why not just politely ask the regular biological flies if they would like to help out with the war against humans??
    After all there seems to be a massive surplus of bullshit in the US, which, at the moment, is simply shoveled down the throats of a somnambulistic US population.

    Perhaps the flies have some sort of ethical code, I dunno.

  45. So does this mean by SoulRider · · Score: 1

    we are going to see cockroaches with tiny satellite dishes attached to them?

  46. I cannot resist by FirstTimeCaller · · Score: 1

    I for one welcome our new robotic over-lords... of the flies.

    --
    Wanted: witty unique signature. Must be willing to relocate.
  47. Time to buy...... by spazekaat · · Score: 0

    .....stocks in fly swatter companies!

  48. Impressive use of Piezoelectric Actuators by Carson+Napier · · Score: 0

    I love this! Small scale manufactring is such a wonderful boom to the electronics industry. I'm sure this development will inspire others, including myself, to persue the use of piezoelectrics and laser based manufacturing of components in micro-robotics devices.
    Just don't let them get near a bug zapper!!!

    --
    If I wanted my mind made up for me, I'd do it myself!!
  49. robot fly by coffeebot · · Score: 1

    Just in time, too. I invented the robotic fly swatter.

  50. Re:Won't be long now, but can it sing SUPERFLY? by davidsyes · · Score: 1

    http://www.oldielyrics.com/lyrics/curtis_mayfield/superfly.html
    ?

    Or, can it sing "Fly Like an Eagle"?

    I think I'm going to develop a window-border gunky misting system to keep this critters grounded, to gunk up their flappers. And, I'll design a "force field" to short them out if they pass the window sill.

    --
    Previously: "Linux... Toward the Sunrise..." Now: "Linux... Toward the-- No, now, part of Every Sunrise"
  51. MIT, where is your fly? by us7892 · · Score: 1

    MIT probably has an army of free-flying, solar powered, 1/2 inch wingspan flies, zipping around the Harvard campus, taking miniature photographs.

    Or has MIT been outdone by Harvard on this one?

  52. A similar concept appears in a Greg Egan's novel by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    In Greg Egan's novel "Quarantine" the main character, Nick Stavrianos, uses a genetically modified mosquito for retrieving a map of a building before entering into it. The mosquito, named Culex, explores the building and stores the map into it's brain, then the map is transferred to Nick's brain via infrared cells that he and the mosquito have.

  53. Re:I don't know what kind of flies they have in NY by shadowbearer · · Score: 1


      A dragonfly? ;)

      (-1:HarHarHar)

    SB

    --
    It's old. The more humans I meet, the more I like my cats. At least they are honest.
  54. Lots more research on bugs by Michael_61J · · Score: 1

    I once saw a technical paper where a research institute was able to pattern a functional antenna on the wings of a bee. The research was based on the fact that, given the right environment, you could train bees to associate any scent to that of honey (co-location). For example, explosives. Once trained, with antennas on their wings and a tiny RFID circuit, hives can be released in a city to seek out explosives. The RFID's can track their location...sort of (low power). Bugnology is coming!

  55. a side point (probably offtopic) by rabiddeity · · Score: 2, Insightful

    "odd things like Li-Po batteries"

    First thought: Geez, they're putting Polonium in batteries now?

    After a quick googling: Nevermind.

    Please don't call it that. Li is an element, and readers will assume Po refers to the element as well. Li-Poly is much less misleading.

    1. Re:a side point (probably offtopic) by bradgoodman · · Score: 1

      When you said "Polonium", I immediately read it as "Bolognium", which was an actual element on the complementary Periodic Tables given to Bart Simpson's class by the good people at Oscar Myer

      Yea, but "Li-Po" rolls off the tongue so much easier - as in "liposuction"...

      Thank you, thank you, I'll be here all night...

  56. And it plays Pink Floyd! by sean4u · · Score: 1

    The iPod is so dead.

  57. You Heartless Savages! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You just gave away the plot for the sequel to Cloverfield!