More robust mini-drones are sought-after goods around the world for combat missions, but the technology is complex.
The dream of every intelligence agency looks like a large mosquito, has two tiny feather-like wings, a narrow body, and stands on three legs. However, it is not a mosquito; it is a mini-drone developed by the Chinese National University of Defense Technology (NUDT).
It is intended for secret military operations and reconnaissance missions, Chinese media reported. The buzzing reconnaissance aircraft was presented in a report recently aired on the military channel of Chinese state television.
The barely noticeable drone was presented by NUDT researcher Liang Hexiang, who also works on humanoid robots. “Here in my hand is a mosquito-like robot. Miniature bionic robots like this are especially suitable for intelligence reconnaissance missions and special operations on the battlefield,” said Hexiang.
In the report by this channel, a prototype of another mini-drone with four small wings that can be operated via smartphone was also shown.
The race for the smallest drones
What is surprising about this channel’s report is not only the obvious progress that the Chinese military has made in the field of robotics technology, but also the fact that a mosquito-sized spy drone is being publicly displayed.
For years, military development engineers around the world have been competing to produce the smallest and most powerful drones possible. Production is demanding because various components, such as microphones and cameras, control systems, power supplies, and other parts, must be installed in as little space as possible. At the same time, the drone must be quiet, robust, have a long range, and be durable.
The development of such tiny drones requires specialized knowledge from various disciplines such as robotics, materials science, and sensor technology – expertise that is primarily available within military institutions.
Noticeable similarities with the United States (U.S.) model
It is not only the Chinese military that is massively promoting the development of mini-drones. Their names often refer to bees, hornets, or mosquitoes, as nature often provides “models” for such bionic mini-robots.
The mini-drone presented by China’s NUDT bears a striking resemblance to the “RoboBee” drone, which researchers at Harvard first introduced to the public in 2013. However, the approximately three-centimeter-long drone was developed for agricultural and environmental monitoring purposes, while the Chinese version is significantly smaller.
Some autonomous models of RoboBee can swim underwater and take off from there. Or “land on surfaces using static electricity,” as stated on the website of Harvard’s Wyss Institute.
Robust nano-drones for combat use
These mini reconnaissance drones are still not robust enough for combat missions. Drones in such actions must withstand wind and (harsh) weather conditions, images and data must be precise, battery life must be long, and the control system must be such that soldiers can operate them from a safe, that is, distant position.
That is why military personnel are still more enthusiastic about the “Black Hornet” drone, roughly palm-sized, developed in Norway, which has been used for several years for safe reconnaissance during combat missions. The German Bundeswehr has also acquired this drone, which resembles a mini-helicopter, for “optical reconnaissance with low noise in a tactically close area.”
According to the Bundeswehr, such drones “enable soldiers to conduct immediate, covert reconnaissance even without special training.”
The “Black Hornet” also has infrared technology, “is very light and practically silent. With a flight time of up to 25 minutes, the pocket-sized nano-drone can deliver live video footage and high-resolution photos,” and thus, for example, detect possible (explosive) traps.
The U.S., which considers China its greatest threat, is also working on its own versions of mini-drones, announced the U.S. Air Force in 2021. However, the U.S. military remains silent for now on how much their development has progressed and whether some models are perhaps already in use.
