Is the Weapon of the Future a Hummingbird Drone?
- Posted on February 21, 2011 at 7:39am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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MONROVIA, Calif. (AP) — A California company says it has demonstrated controlled precision hovering and fast-forward flight by a camera-equipped micro aircraft that flies like a hummingbird.
Monrovia-based AeroVironment on Thursday released video of the remotely controlled Nano Hummingbird it developed for the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.
The artificial hummingbird uses only its two flapping wings for propulsion and control. For the video, an operator flew it outdoors and then through a doorway into a building:
The prototype has a wingspan of 6.5 inches, weighs two-thirds of an ounce and has a body fairing shaped like a real hummingbird.
AeroVironment was founded by the late Paul MacCready, designer of the pioneering human-powered flying machines Gossamer Condor and Gossamer Albatross. The company also makes unmanned military aircraft systems.
See more videos here.
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Comments (77)
terriergal
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 11:25amHm great idea. Wish it was quieter. It wouldn’t fool me, since it doesn’t really look much like a bird or move like one, but by the time I saw it it’d be awfully close already. Hummers don’t fly pointing straight up.
Report Post »chips1
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 6:15pmDon’t lie to us. You’ve seen a hummer straight up.
Report Post »happyboy
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 10:56amWHAT WILL THE CHINESE ENGINEERS THINK UP NEXT.
When do these go on sale a Wal Mart. I saw mineture remote helicopters at a Florida shopping mall at Christmas for $20. They even had larger ones for $50 that could carry an optional video camera. These hummingbird units are nicer. When will Wal Mart and Sam’s Club start selling them. These little hummingbirds would be great for spying on your neighbor and police departments. If they catch it, they don’t know were it came from if you paid cash.
Report Post »mhills51
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 3:19pmThey are already at walmart. lol! http://www.walmart.com/ip/Air-Hogs-Hawk-Eye-2/14320712
Report Post »As far as the battery life, mine runs at 3000rpm for 6min on a $80 LI-PO 11.1v 2200mAH
dawg of gawd
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 10:48amSo THIS is what‘s up Beck’s butt.
roxee
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 10:45amCheck out on youtube the LRAD weapon,just one of the few in use on crowd crontrol,there are more of these Lovely devices out there ………coming to a protest near you.
Report Post »rdk
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 10:10amCan the hummingbird carry a hellfire missile?
Report Post »happyboy
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 11:01amIt would be better if they self destruct when caught. These would be great to have at office picnics, beaches, and the neighbor’s back yard. The min-remote $20 helicopters are quite but are easy to spot. The hummingbird is a good idea, those cleaver Chinese.
Report Post »B-Neil
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 9:53amIts better then wearing, Class level Uniforms…..Carry on McDuff
Report Post »conservativeme
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 9:29amLOL – one good gust of wind and $4 million – good bye!
Report Post »spreadcommonsensenot pc
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 9:23amNo worries I just got my new tennis racket………..
Report Post »HellAndBack
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 9:22amThree words…. Carbon Nano Tubes. Lighter than air … Stronger than Steel (tensile) … and …. wait for it… Already being used.
Report Post »tower7femacamp
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 8:51amthis will be used on Patriots and Tea party rallies
Report Post »happyboy
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 11:06amTHESE SPY BIRDS WERE USED AT LAST SUMMERS’ TEA PARTY RALLY IN DC.
Manny of us saw them hovering over our marchers near the Canadian Embassy but they were too small to video. They do make a humming sound that identifies their location. An enemy will not have any trouble dealing with them. They are only intended for use against Americans.
Report Post »OperationNorthwoods
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 1:39pmYup. Probably already are. When are people going to get the fact that everything the government says its doing to fight terrorism is actually to be used on us? Wake up to the fraud of the war on terror or wake up in a police state. The choice is yours.
Report Post »tower7femacamp
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 4:55pmI was thinking steel shot say #6 3 inch mag 12 ga ?
Report Post »TheLeftMadeMeRight
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 8:48amYea I’ve been wondering why the hummingbirds that come to our home don’t stop at the flowers or feeder, they just hover, looking in my window…
“Just because you’re not paranoid doesn’t mean the hummingbirds aren’t real”
Report Post »BenInNY
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 8:47amI WANT ONE! surprised at the low battery life though, I would think if they stacked lithium cells and added one of those tiny photo cells they’d fare better. Oh, but then there’s the weight issue… Ah hell, I still want one.
Report Post »Rickfromillinois
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 8:45amDoes it have killer lasers in it’s eyes? I want them to have killer lasers in it’s eyes. That would be cool.
What makes this drone very interesting is it’s weight and size. Like they said a soldier could carry it in his pocket. If cost would permit the wide spread usage of them so that whenever a squad is coming up to the corner of a building for example, they could quickly deploy the drone and send it to see what is around said corner, hopefully without attracting attention. It is potentially a very useful tool for the military. Perhaps if they can get the flight time extended and the unit costs cut we may see widespread use of it.
Report Post »lillianrose
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 8:41amDid a little search on where to find hummingbirds and found-
http://ezinearticles.com/?Bird-Watching-Sightings—The-Hummingbird&id=338018 “There are no hummingbirds in Asia, Africa or Europe, where their niche in the ecosystem is filled by other birds.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hummingbird – Hummingbirds are restricted to the Americas.
So one question is- where are they planning to use this?
Report Post »chips1
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 6:05pmThey plan on putting itty bitty turbans on them and………….
Report Post »Carl1
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 8:37amI want one. Would set it up to drop Hummingbird poop on all Liberals. Including NObama
Report Post »Tickdog
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 8:36amgreat… swarm the freaking mexico border with them.
Report Post »clockwatcher
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 8:31amThe left/MSNBC/ACLU/Dem.party, will find a way to steal it and give it to our enemies because we must be fair.
Report Post »Kevin
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 8:29amForget the birds.. Lets make Iron man suits for every soldier. I want to see a live version of WARHAMMER on the battlefield lol
Report Post »hugecatfish
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 8:20amJust wondering – Are there hummingbirds in the Middle Eastern deserts?
Report Post »Bob_R_OathKeeper
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 8:22amThere will be now, lol.
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 8:44amNope
Report Post »proliance
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 9:27amNot yet.
Report Post »Ray2447
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 8:09amAt 6.5 inches, it’s a little large for a hummingbird. I suppose it could be set up to drop little bombs like a mini version of a Predator drone. Watch out Ben Laden, there’s a hummingbird with your name on it.
Report Post »Bob_R_OathKeeper
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 8:23amWouldn’t a nano hummingbird be too small to see?
Report Post »9thCommandment
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 8:05amAnd know you wonder why there are sooo many rats with wings. (Pigeons).
Report Post »Voice-O-Reason
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 8:01amIt’s engine is too loud.
Report Post »oldoldtimer
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 9:21amNot the engine. It is the wings flapping and gear noise.
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 8:00amwaste of money if you ask me…..we have remote control toys that can do this, and they cost about 20 bucks anyone want to guess how much uncle sam wants to pay for these??????
remember the 500 dol hammers and 1000 dollar toilet seats ?????
Report Post »912828Buckeye
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 8:38amI do remember…….Didn’t that money pay for area 51? ;-)
Report Post »mhills51
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 10:19amI have 8 remote control helicopters that can do a whole hell of a lot more than that thing. One that is belt driven and is quiet at a price of $1200. The remote they are using is a 2.4g with a range of 3000ft. It was kinda funny when I was officially informed by the FAA and AMA that I was not to fly while Obama was in town. lol!
Report Post »Creestof
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 3:18pm“Hello Congressman, we need another 2 million to replace one of our hummingbird rc cameras”
“Why, what happened to the last one?”
“Some damn woman’s siamese cat jumped it and ate it.”
“Why, that’s terrible! But why 2 million, I thought they only cost 1 million?”
“Well sir, the lady’s cat died from eating the electronics and is suing us for 1 million.”
“Oh…”
Report Post »chips1
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 6:00pmHow fast can China produce these and supply Obummers civilian army?
Report Post »cnsrvtvj
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 7:56amThat is pretty amazing. It looks quite real. Seems like this could have many different uses, both good and bad.
http://www.donsmithshow.com – see the unions in Wisconsin video
Report Post »happyboy
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 11:09amEVERYONE SHOULD BRING FISH NETTING TO THE NEXT RALLY.
I think it would be cleaver to capture a few of them by throwing fine fish netting at them. This is one more example of how dangerous our US Federal Government has become. Lets see if that police begin searching for fish net at the next TEA rally.
Report Post »RLTW
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 11:51amAs with many new technologies it seems useful, but they never addressed its limitation, although they did mention limited loiter time and range, wind would be the main issue.
Report Post »For those of you that have not been to Afghanistan it’s windy, so my first question is what its forward airspeed is.
Helldogger
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 7:46amYes!! Absolutely. Our barbaric enemy should never see an American human to shoot at.
Report Post »912828Buckeye
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 7:56amIf we are reading about it here it is already in service.
Report Post »How’s that for a conspiracy theory?
Creestof
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 8:02amUntil it went inside the building I would have sworn it’s beak was attached to a string…but then, wow!
Now you have to ask…
How close does the operator have to be?
Report Post »How easy is it to jam its frequency on purpose and by happenstance?
What is the recording time? Were we seeing live feed, or recorded on a chip and played later on a PiP?
What are the zoom capabilities? If it does not get any better, then I’m not very impressed…that close in a an enemy camp = dead bird.
Was there no sound…or is it truly that quiet?
Yet another item that will fall into the hands of our enemies the first time it gets netted in a camp?
SHTFM.COM Are You Prepared ?
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 8:24am@Helldogger
Hummingbird’s natural habitat (the place where they live) is in the America’s. Their range is as far north as Alaska and as far south as Chile. Most hummingbirds live in the South America.
So that should tell you where these weapons would be used.
Here is the link to the wold of Hummingbirds
Report Post »http://www.worldofhummingbirds.com/habitat.php
Xcori8r
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 8:31amThe fun thing about using something like this to deliver a grenade to Achmed is that you get to see the look on his face before you press the detonate button.
Report Post »tower7femacamp
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 8:52amthis was on Alex Jones site first
Report Post »rappini
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 9:13amThe Rag Heads are going to have a pant load when they see this video.
Report Post »John 1776
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 9:17amLove it! You could just fly it right through an open door or window! Have to agree, why waste our lives on an enemy that has no value on human life!
Report Post »MR_ANDERSON
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 9:27amI’ve seen better versions. Smaller ones, that can pivot their body rather than just upright, and make little noise. Additionally, they could fly for about 45 minutes to an hour before another would take its place. I don’t know who owned them, but they were trying to gain access inside a secure location I was once guarding.
Report Post »independentvoteril
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 9:44amOK because they are humming birds which aren‘t in the area’s we are fighting in I will use LOGIC these are NOT for using anywhere but HERE.. So now all the humming birds are in danger people won‘t be feeding them to discourage them from coming around so they don’t have to worry if they see one if it’s a drone or a real bird.. NICE WORK.. guess the government don’t like hummingbirds.. not putting up my feeder this year..LOL..
Report Post »happyboy
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 10:50amAHHH, WILL ENEMY FIGURE OUT THAT SHOTGUNS WITH BIRD SALT IS A SIMPLE COUNTER MEASURE?
It would only work in the USA where citizens are not allowed to own shotguns. Soon the EPA will place these Hummingbirds on the endangered list so we cannot destroy them.
Report Post »OneFunR6
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 11:21amXcori8r,
Will that be Visa, or Master Card?
Either way, the LOOK will be PRICELESS!
roflmao!
Report Post »Rob
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 11:34amAeroVironment was started by one of the Beatles?
Report Post »ISeeDanger.com
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 12:09pmLove it, but 4 million????
Report Post »CatB
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 1:16pmlol .. a fly on the wall? .. I guess a hummingbird on the wing is just as good … .let them seek out the enemy and then take them out!
Report Post »TSUNAMI-22
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 1:46pmPaul McCready…not McCartney.
Funny man.
Report Post »Sinista Mace
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 4:07pmThis is for surveillance of American citizens.
Report Post »tower7femacamp
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 4:58pmfly one over the Playboy mansion during a big party ?
Report Post »or celebrity weddings ? Maybe Sara Palins Neighbor has one ?