TMCnet’s Chris DiMarco reports that DARPA funded a robotic spy nano-hummingbird weighing 19 grams or 0.67 ounces. With a wing span of 5.6 inches the “bird” which has an integrated CMOS video camera and transmitter has recently increased its flying range to five-eleven minutes. This is tremendous progress as it flew only 20 seconds two years ago. It has been in development for five years in-total.

I can’t help thinking this device is part of a military future with Terminator-like flying-objects but unless the range can get better and you can stick something that explodes on it – perhaps its destined – for the moment, to end up next to the RC helicopter in the toy chest of your kid’s room.

This video explains how this technology could find its way into larger UAVs in the future.