AeroVironment video of flight tests of its Nano Hummingbird flapping-wing nano air vehicle, developed for DARPA. Battery-powered and remote-controlled, the hummingbird-like prototype uses flapping wings for propulsion and control. Carring a video camera and downlink, the prototype has a wingspan of 16cm (9.5in) and weighs just 19 grams (0.66oz). It can hover for 8 minutes, remaining stable in gusts up to 5mph, and reach up to 11mph in forward flight. The Nano Hummingbird was named One of Time Magazine’s 50 best inventions of 2011. This isn’t the only flying robot that DARPA is investing in; they’ve recently released information about cyborg insects that will be used for future surveillance missions made in partnership with a team of researchers from the University of Michigan. [Source]
