The design and development of miniature or micro unmanned aerial systems (MUAS) are taking more cues from the insect world. A team of researchers at Harvard's School of Engineering and Applied Sciences have modelled their Robobee UAS on honeybees (Falconer, 2012). The Robobee system was recently made capable of remote controlled flight through the inclusion of two actuators for pitch and roll control (Falconer, 2012). The team is working to develop yaw and feedback capabilities to the system (Falconer, 2012). Law enforcement groups have begun to examine the use of such small scale UAS, while the US Army has been considering their tactical advantages for a couple years (Foxnews, 2012; Robinson, 2010).
REFERENCES
Falconer, J. (2012 Oct). Harvard's Robobee learning to fly. Gizmag.com. Retrieved from http://www.gizmag.com/harvard-robobee-micro-robot-flight-control/24478/
Foxnews. (2012 Oct). Policeweigh tiny new colleagues: micro-drones. Retrieved from http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2012/10/01/police-weigh-tiny-new-colleagues-micro-drones/
Gizmag. (2012). harvard-robobees-2.jpg [image file]. Retrieved from http://www.gizmag.com/harvard-robobee-micro-robot-flight-control/24478/pictures
Robinson, B. (2010, July). Beware of that bug: It could be following you. Defense Systems. Retrieved from http://defensesystems.com/articles/2010/07/06/army-insect-uavs.aspx?m=2
