Dragonfly Spy Cameras Go Everywhere Insects Can
As if insects weren’t bad enough already. Now you’re going to have to keep an eye on more than just the ones that bite. That’s because the day has finally come, the DelFly II, developed by the Delft University of Technology is a dragonfly and a spy camera all rolled into one.
This little critter has a ten centimeter wingspan, weighs just 16 grams and can glide for fifteen minutes at up to 30mph. Why would you worry about a spy camera that’s whizzing by so fast? That’s because it can also hover in place against the wind, fly backwards and vertical. All while watch you taking a shower like it’s nobody’s business.
Interestingly enough, the flight system was the easy part. It was miniaturizing the electronics, camera, and controls that posed a problem. The camera doesn’t have just one sole purpose. It works in conjunction with an image stabilization engine, comparing the controls of the pilot with images while self-balancing its movement for more stable footage. Software determines which targets to track and for how long.
The team is currently working on an even smaller version of the insect. Version 3.0 will be one third the size of it’s daddy, measuring in at 5cm. Future uses, besides espionage, could include tracking victims of natural disasters or saving the day in a chemical spill.
If you ask me those are just politically correct ways to say they’ll be used to watch what’s going on with the girl next door.
