(Image Source: AeroVironment)

 

BY STEPHANIE STOUFFER
 

ANCHOR AUSTIN KIM

You're watching multisource tech video news analysis from Newsy

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s a... nano hummingbird? The Pentagon hired AeroVironment to develop the tiny flying drone a few years ago. Now, it’s actually flying. Here’s a bird’s eye view.

The nano hummingbird weighs in at just 19 grams and can fly forwards, backwards, and up to 11 miles per hour. Its built-in camera gives an exact point of view of where the bird is flying. AeroVironment tells NPR it has... (Video from AeroVironment)

“...accomplished a technical milestone never before achieved — controlled precision hovering and fast-forward flight of a two-wing, flapping wing aircraft that carries its own energy source, and uses only the flapping wings for propulsion and control.”

So where does the Pentagon see this bird going? Across enemy lines, of course. Defense expert Peter Singer tells the LA Times -- quote -- it really gets interesting.

"You can use these things anywhere, put them anyplace, and the target will never even know they're being watched."

But not everyone is impressed with the hummer drone. A blogger for the Village Voice calls the bird a -- quote -- Watson minion and says it’s old news.

“We hate to break it to the Pentagon, but the flying spy camera isn't even that original of an idea. Geniuses on YouTube have been showing off flying spy cams for years.”

And Fox News points out another hurdle -- hummingbirds aren’t that common of a bird.

“...the usual reaction to seeing a hummingbird here in midtown Manhattan is something like ‘OMG you guys look at the hummingbird!!!!!!,’ which is not necessarily an ideal situation for a spy-drone.”

But have no fear -- AeroVironment has already considered that issue. The company told PhysOrg it plans to create other more popular birds.

“The current model is a prototype and more development is required before any decisions are made on its deployment … the final version is unlikely to look like a hummingbird, which is rare even in parts of the US … a sparrow would be a better choice.”

The Pentagon has paid AeroVironment about $4 million since 2006 for the project.  So, the next time a bird perches on your window, take a closer look. It could be Uncle Sam, dressed up in feathers.

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