Gizmodo
I don't know what's more creepy about this 11-inch remote controlled drone developed by the USAF for reconnaissance missions. Maybe it's the flexible wings, which close and open like a bat when landing. Perhaps it's the crawling on the floor, modeled after cockroaches, to reach hidden places to spy. Or most probably is the fact that they are planning to develop a large drone that will carry 50 of these little beasts, ready to burst out of its belly at any time. Whatever it is, I want one. [Flight]
Morphing Micro-Drone Is Half Bat, Half Cockroach, Creeps Us Out
I don't know what's more creepy about this 11-inch remote controlled drone developed by the USAF for reconnaissance missions. Maybe it's the flexible wings, which close and open like a bat when landing. Perhaps it's the crawling on the floor, modeled after cockroaches, to reach hidden places to spy. Or most probably is the fact that they are planning to develop a large drone that will carry 50 of these little beasts, ready to burst out of its belly at any time. Whatever it is, I want one. [
Read More:
5:00 AM on Fri Apr 18 2008
By Jesus Diaz
20,456 views
28 comments
Comments
Maybe what's creeping you out is the cloverfield-esque video footage at the end...
Somebody please tell them the steadicam was invented aaages ago!
This is the type of tech that really gets me jazzed to observe technological progress as it begins to round the exponential curve and rocket into the sky.
Kurzweil says it'll only be a few more years until our technology transcends our own biology, maybe 2060 or so.
We will all carry a processor on our person that is capable of trillions of times the calculations that a normal human brain can do, our dying flesh will be replaced with man made organs.
I just want my own R/C bat/roach aerial spy attack drone robot. Undoubtedly they sport such a thing in vending machines in Tokyo
It's called a tripod. They're available in Wal*Mart for under ten dollars. Seriously, you get millions to develop your prototype, but you can afford a stick to put your camera on? The only thing this was missing was a up the nose shot saying how scared they are.
But that thing is cool.
Whoever did the video for this is an asshole. FOCUS. Get off the crack and hold the damn camera steady.
Damn fool.
Christ, how many beers to they give these vendors before videoing a demonstration nowadays?
It's called a TRIPOD, defense contractor.
any idea if an up the skirt shots available ?
@fastmike: technically it's a kilt. still wanna see?
@strider_mt2k:
actually, to the US military it's really a bipod with a kickstand
@Babysealclubber:DAMMIT! I was gonna use the clvoerfield ref..... curse you parallel thinking
You'd think people training in shooting guns could at least make an attempt to hold a camera steady.
Did someone kick the camera man in the nuts? He seems to have some difficulty holding the frame.
If I ever see one of those, Id probably flip out and squash it or drown it in some raid!
If I ever saw one of those, Id probably flip out and squash it or maybe drown it in some raid!
he is probably not supposed to have recorded this in the first place.
@dremon21:
that's a pretty redundant statement
har ha.. it's friday, give me a break
that video gave me a headache
I guess they used up all development money on this drone but never accounted for a half-way decent cam with steadycam or a tripod...
I know they cut the budget, but damn... Do they have to resort to camera phones?
Sorta reminds me of the remote controlled bug in The Fifth Element...
Or most probably is the fact that they are planning to develop a large drone that will carry 50 of these little beasts, ready to burst out of its belly at any time.
CARRIER HAS ARRIVED.
@CultofMac:
Kurzweil is right. Look at those people wearing buttplugs in their ears... errr.. BT headphones....
It makes me want to play Homeworld again. Swarm baby!
@BigViper: The proper term is "hivemind".
One stray cultural meme, and a dozen people post the proper response meme within minutes.
It's a very early iteration of an Imperial Probe Droid.
yup, that's the biggest beatle I ever saw!
Nice toy for the kids but what the hell are you going to see? Goons running around with weapons. Very unstable video and poor quality. I hope the USAF has better gear for the rollout, because they probably spent a few pennies developing it.
Reminds me of the Zanti Misfits Outer Limits episode:
[upload.wikimedia.org]
Comment on this post
Reply by EmailLogin with your username and password below. Or comment on this post via email.
Forgot your username or password? New User?