American military engineers are developing a new generation of aerial micro-drones, shrinking the unmanned aircraft to the size of insects and birds.
Developers at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio have produced dozens of prototypes that would not look out of place in a James Bond movie, based on the flight mechanics of birds, moths and dragonflies.
The Pentagon has rapidly increased its use of drones in the past two years to gather intelligence and launch missiles from the skies over Pakistan and Afghanistan. Supporters claim they have weakened al-Qaeda and reduced the chances of US casualties.
Major Michael Anderson, a doctoral student at the base's advanced navigation technology centre, who is developing wings based on those of the hawk moth, said: "It's impressive what they can do compared to what our clumsy aircraft can do."
Today's drones, such as the Predator and Reaper, are the size of light aircraft and piloted by remote control.
The next generation will be autonomous, flying themselves and programmed to search out targets, nuclear weapons or even spot survivors of natural disasters.
Last month it emerged that the CIA gathered intelligence on Osama bin Laden's Pakistani hideaway using one of its new stealth drones, the RQ-170 Sentinel, or the "Beast of Kandahar, after the runway where it was first seen.
And the pace of development is only expected to increase.
The Pentagon has asked Congress for nearly $5 billion for drones next year.
Much of the research is focused on developing "flapping wing" technology, copying the way the muscles of an insect keep it aloft and allowing the drone to hover.
That brings an obvious advantage, said Greg Parker, an aerospace engineer at the base's test centre, known as the "microaviary" – camouflage.
"We're looking at how you hide in plain sight," he said.
The Telegraph
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