The research seeks to miniaturize the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle drones used in Iraq and Afghanistan for surveillance and reconnaissance. The next generation of drones, called Micro Aerial Vehicles, or MAVs, could be as tiny as bumblebees and capable of flying undetected into buildings, where they could photograph, record, and even attack insurgents and terrorists.
By identifying and assaulting adversaries more precisely, the robots would also help reduce or avoid civilian casualties, the military says. They plan to start by developing a bird-sized robot as soon as 2015, followed by the insect-sized models by 2030. The vehicles could be useful on battlefields where the biggest challenge is collecting reliable intelligence about enemies.