The Harvard Robobee team has patented a mass production manufacturing process of micro aerial vehicle with insect-like form and size. Until now the manufacturing was artisanal but now this inspired from pop-up books new process allows fast production with incredible tolerance.
The next step is to develop the collective behaviour and intelligence of bee colony.
The applications will be from flower pollination to military surveillance.
The new surveillance concept will be completely different with Micro Aerial Vehicles associated with bugs or birds flight. The DARPA's Hummingbird spy robot could be flying a few steps away unnoticed transmitting audio and video.
The Delfly II spy robot is one of many attempts to develop Micro Aerial Vehicles for surveillance mission. The bug cover is appropriated for urban environment and could also be suitable for civilian targets. The third version will be one third sized and it will also be capable of transmitting video.