Danger Room reports on the “DelFly” series of tiny flying robots built by the Delft University of Technology. The DelFly Micro, shown in the above video, has a ten-centimeter wingspan, but the DUT team are already working on subsequent models that will be half the size—easily mistaken for some sort of insect, like the purported flying mini-drones that some protesters in Washington said may have been spying on them last month.
Video: Dragonfly Drones in Flight [Danger Room]
Hmmmm . . . anyone here ever read “Danny Dunn, Invisible Boy” when they were young? Same idea, professor figures out you can’t really make someone “invisible” but instead enables them to enter a room in the form of a small electronic insect that is actually a spying drone, making them a de-facto invisible occupant of the room.
All these new devices, “invisible” flying drones, heat-ray “non lethal” weapons, etc., make me think the notion of a future police state is not at all unreasonable to expect. They won’t be spying on terrorists, they’ll be spying on their own citizens.
I loved the Danny Dunn series when I was growing up! That book was my favorite, especially the completely hilarious poem written by Danny’s mopey friend to distract the military guard. I also enjoyed the one with the computer. The concepts were ridiculous when I look back on them (anti-grav paint, computers programmed to write essays just by typing in textbooks, etc.), but they at least sparked an interest in science.
Unfortunately I don’t think Delft will have the same ethics displayed in the book.
…so let’s spy on them back! (sousveillance)
How long till can we start watching back-room energy policy meetings on the Youtubes?