Seiko Epson Develops Micro Flying Robot

Seiko Epson Corp. is developing a flying robot that looks like a miniature helicopter and is about the size of a giant bug. The company hopes it'll prove handy for security, disaster rescue and space exploration.

The robot, 3.35 inches tall and 0.4 ounces, follows a flight-route program sent by Bluetooth wireless from a computer.

On board is a 32-bit microcontroller, a super-thin motor, a digital camera that sends blurry images and a tiny gyro-sensor, which the company said may also appear in digital cameras and cell phones as soon as this year to help deliver more precise images.

The Micro Flying Robot barely managed to get off the ground in a demonstration this week. It crashed off the table at one point and required long waits for battery changes. It can fly just three minutes at a time, for now, and its lift was wobbly because the machine's precision is not much better than a wind-up toy.

But developers say its power, relative to its minuscule size, makes it potentially a useful tool for rescue and surveillance. The robot is not yet available for sale; a commercial model is planned for release in two or three years.

story.news.yahoo.com.../ap/20040819/ap_on_hi_te/flying_robot

I can see how a power source for something this size could be a pain. You really would not get much distance out of it either. Still it would be fun to pester dinner guests with.

[edit on 19-8-2004 by Jonna]

Power supply is always the kicker in these things.
I think it will be some time yet before they develop a battery able to power such a thing for a long time. Of course a petro engine would work but think of the noise....

Still at the cool gimmick stage....

Already got it covered here :

www.abovetopsecret.com...

Whoops.... Looks like I was beaten to it hours earlier here:

www.abovetopsecret.com...

Teaches me for being a smarmy stuck up git!