US intelligence agencies were just as obsessed with drone spying 40 years ago as they are nowadays -- only then, it was pipe-smoking entomologists and watchmakers who were in charge of building prototypes. Back in the '70s, the CIA needed some kind of miniature flyer to deliver an audio bug, and after considering (and rejecting) a faux bumblebee, decided that a robotic dragonfly would be the best option. The wee UAV used a "miniature fluidic oscillator" as a motor and was propelled by a small amount of gas. It was somehow guided by a laser beam, which served double-duty as the "datalink for the audio sensor payload," according to the CIA Museum. Unfortunately, the insect-based mech proved too difficult to control, especially with any degree of wind, and was eventually scuppered -- all that's left of the now-declassified project is in the video after the break.

Continue reading CIA dragonfly drone almost beat modern UAVs by 40 years, was swatted (video)

Filed under: Robots, Science

CIA dragonfly drone almost beat modern UAVs by 40 years, was swatted (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Jul 2012 08:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.