This Robotic Dragonfly Flew 40 Years Ago
Writing by Evan Ackerman on Wednesday, 9 of February , 2011 at 12:03 am
This is a robotic dragonfly. If I told you that some company had just invented it and it was flying around today, you’d probably be impressed. Instead, I’m going to tell you that it was developed by the CIA and was flying in the 1970s. And not just flying like proof-of-concept-it-gets-off-the-ground flying, but reportedly, the flight tests were ‘impressive,’ whatever that means. It was powered by an ultraminiaturized gasoline engine (!) that would vent its exhaust backwards to increase the bot’s thrust, and the only reason they seemed to have scrapped it was that its performance in a crosswind wasn’t that good:
In the 1970s the CIA had developed a miniature listening device that needed a delivery system, so the agency’s scientists looked at building a bumblebee to carry it. They found, however, that the bumblebee was erratic in flight, so the idea was scrapped. An amateur entymologist on the project then suggested a dragonfly and a prototype was built that became the first flight of an insect-sized machine.
A laser beam steered the dragonfly and a watchmaker on the project crafted a miniature oscillating engine so the wings beat, and the fuel bladder carried liquid propellant.
Despite such ingenuity, the project team lost control over the dragonfly in even a gentle wind. “You watch them in nature, they’ll catch a breeze and ride with it. We, of course, needed it to fly to a target. So they were never deployed operationally, but this is a one-of-a-kind piece.”
In of itself, this dragonfly is not particularly crazy. It’s also not particularly crazy that it was done 30 or 40 years ago, I guess. What IS crazy is when you start thinking about the state of technology 40 years ago versus the state of technology today, and what might be possible now (but currently top secret) if they had an operational insect robot way back then. It blows my mind.
The CIA also came up with a robot squid (its mission is STILL classified) and a robot research fish named Charlie. Pics and video of that, after the jump.
CIA’s Office of Advanced Technologies and Programs developed the Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV) fish to study aquatic robot technology. Some of the specifications used to develop “Charlie” were: speed, endurance, maneuverability, depth control, navigational accuracy, autonomy, and communications status.
The UUV fish contains a pressure hull, ballast system, and communications system in the body and a propulsion system in the tail. It is controlled by a wireless line-of-sight radio handset.
Cute! And once again, seriously not bad for such a long time ago.
[ CIA Flickr ] VIA [ Danger Room ]
Comments (17)
Category: Biorobotics
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Comment by richtaur
Made Wednesday, 9 of February , 2011 at 10:50 am
Wow, makes you wonder what they’ve got going today. Might not even be distinguishable from the real thing!
Comment by BAReFOOt
Made Wednesday, 9 of February , 2011 at 11:04 am
Honestly… It is well-known that the CIA and its Russian counterpart made up a ton of believable stories to scare the enemy itto thinking they would be mor advanced than they were. A technique used since the dawn of life on earth, by all kinds of animals.
So considering the crass unlikelyness of this, I have little doubt it is as made up as the bible… But people still like very much to believe it anyway, because it gives them an explanation for their own shattered expectations of life.
Comment by David Renner
Made Wednesday, 9 of February , 2011 at 11:22 am
Lucky visitors to the CIA Museum (https://www.cia.gov/about-cia/cia-museum/index.html) can see the dragonfly on display. It was one of the more fascinating items there among other “007″ type stuff.
Comment by Brett
Made Wednesday, 9 of February , 2011 at 1:01 pm
I don’t know why everybody is so surprised about this being done 30-40 years ago. We put a man on the moon 42 years ago, that’s a lot more impressive. Technology, outside of digital computers, hasn’t advanced all that much. Computers on projects like this offer some advantages but also tremendous disadvantages (like eternal development cycles) because no one has any sort of engineering discipline any more – because the computers are so fast.
Comment by Oflife
Made Wednesday, 9 of February , 2011 at 5:17 pm
Our cat keeps following me and looking at my monitor.
And every evening, it sticks it’s tail in the wall socket.
And it REALLY doesn’t like water.
Hmmm…
Comment by Goose
Made Wednesday, 9 of February , 2011 at 11:03 pm
I know that music from the fish video, from Operation Neptune. This submarine math game. Never did help me much
Comment by Pond
Made Thursday, 10 of February , 2011 at 2:39 am
This is nothing. I like the CIA’s genetically modified flatworm eggs that mature in the intestines and build a microphone with antenna into the person’s guts and gets it’s energy from biogas.
Comment by Tony Cochran
Made Thursday, 10 of February , 2011 at 12:24 pm
I disagree with some of the other comments. I think it is impressive and appreciate this interesting and informative post. It certainly does make you wonder what they have now.
Comment by THE invisible pink implanted chip (yes, that one)
Made Monday, 14 of February , 2011 at 5:59 pm
can you hear me now?
yeah, that’s what I thought.
Comment by Hugo
Made Monday, 14 of February , 2011 at 6:34 pm
See more information in http://www.informacionrss.com.ar/Robotic_Dragonfly.html
regards
Comment by DiabloHorn
Made Thursday, 17 of February , 2011 at 12:19 pm
Nice, very interesting piece of technology. Really makes you wonder if they really are that advanced now…and if so what it could possibly be that they poses atm. I mean most people today have some pretty nice spy equipment at arms reach due to the many spy shops.
Comment by Daniel
Made Thursday, 17 of February , 2011 at 2:23 pm
Well the world was already very high tech in the 70′s.
Comment by yair suari
Made Thursday, 17 of February , 2011 at 3:48 pm
and still one iraqi who wants to overthrow sadam can get the country in war
Comment by Marky
Made Friday, 25 of February , 2011 at 10:49 am
Hey. Very nice! Keep posting useful things!
Comment by Fire
Made Wednesday, 6 of July , 2011 at 6:56 am
Back in the 70′s people had better goals than they do today. In the 70′s, wars were very little, and technology was advancing extremely fast. The goal was to invent new technology for everyone to use. Now, people’s goals are to build the best weapons so they can be the most influencial country in the world. I think that computers are not going to accelerate as quickly now, though, because they are already very powerful. I think that robots that can learn new things are going to be the new things.
Comment by Wade Willson
Made Friday, 22 of July , 2011 at 7:11 am
That could be a recon bot.
Comment by 1099 form
Made Wednesday, 4 of January , 2012 at 11:08 pm
whats your facebook profile?
