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The feds have awarded defense giant Lockheed Martin with a $1.7-million, 10-month contract to design a "revolutionary remote-controlled nano air vehicle that will collect military intelligence indoors and outdoors on the urban battlefield," according to a company press release today.The device will be similar in size and shape to a maple tree seed, about 1.5 inches long and weighing less than an ounce. A chemical rocket in its one-bladed wing will power a sensor module more than 1,100 yards. It will be delivered from a hover craft well away from the target area, and there will be a camera in its wing to make sure it stays on target and monitor the area.
The device will rotate in flight, but its camera will provide a forward view and transmit images back to a small, hand-held display.
According to Lockheed official James Marsh, the design will require "revolutionary manufacturing technologies to integrate near-microscopic components into the airframe."
"The challenges are both exciting and daunting, because some of the technologies vital to our success have yet to be discovered," Marsh said. "We know going in that we need some of the best minds in manufacturing technology and in the development and integration of highly sophisticated, software- driven control technologies and mission systems."
Like most military devices, these will be used commercially so expect something like this to proliferate in the near future.
So in a year or two, if you see what looks like a maple seed hovering around you as you demonstrate outside the White House or even just relax in your home, at least you'll know what it is.
Now, we will have to start carrying fly swatters - or spy swatters.
