B. McPherson
The Nano Hummingbird is a science fiction dystopian feature come to our time. This bird sized robot can carry a camera and broadcast to a remote location. This month’s Discover Magazine explains how scientists working for the US Defense Advance Research Projects Agency(DARPA) have invented a fake hummingbird, flapping wings and hard to distinguish from a real bird.

This little birdie is not new, having been revealed to the public in 2011. It lends a whole new meaning to the old expression “A little bird told me”. These little snoops can zip around windows and yards, keeping a close eye on foreigners and locals alike.

TIME Magazine declared  the Nano Air Vehicle (NAV) one of the best inventions of 2011.

“The device is bigger and heavier than a typical real hummingbird, but is smaller and lighter than the largest hummingbird varieties. It could be deployed to perform reconnaissance and surveillance in urban environments or on battlefields, and might perch on windowsills or power lines, or enter buildings to observe its surroundings, relaying camera views back to its operator.[4] According to DARPA, the Nano Air Vehicle's configuration will "provide the warfighter with unprecedented capability for urban mission operations." Wikipedia

Currently there are few restrictions on government agencies from defense departments to local police forces on how and when they may use drones and robots for surveillance and information gathering. The technology has moved forward very rapidly and leaves regulators scrambling to agree on rules for use. Republican David Taylor from Washington State is spearheading a bipartisan bill that would hammer out rules for public agencies and private users.

Police departments in various jurisdictions are already expressing enthusiasm for the little snoops. Seattle police had the kybosh put on their hopes for NAVs by the city mayor Mike McGinn.

So if you see a bluebird on your windowsill like in the old song, close your blinds.

B. McPherson

The US military is using ‘good old American knowhow’ to produce ever more bizarre weapons of war. It is a common thing for us to hear about drone strikes in countries that the US has an interest in. Those weapons are guided from within the continental US to strike enemies or others in far off areas.

Now there is a jumping robot. Dubbed Sand Flea this robot developed by Boston Dynamics is in its final testing before being deployed to Afghanistan. It will join about 2 000 other robots on the ground there. This little robot weighs only about 11 pounds but can leap about 30 feet in height with the aid of a carbon dioxide cartridge. The tough little machine can leap over compound walls and then back again; leap onto buildings; or leap into open second story rooms taking video all the time.

Currently in the works at Boston Dynamics is a robot called the Cheetah. It has maintained speeds up to 18 mph on a treadmill. It takes its inspiration from the fast cat.

Another military robot that Boston Dynamics seems particularly proud of is the Big Dog robot. They refer to it as “the alpha male” of their robots. I can think of other adjectives to describe it.

“In separate tests BigDog runs at 4 mph, climbs slopes up to 35 degrees, walks across rubble, climbs a muddy hiking trail, walks in snow and water, and carries a 340 lb load. BigDog set a world's record for legged vehicles by traveling 12.8 miles without stopping or refueling.

The ultimate goal for BigDog is to develop a robot that can go anywhere people and animals can go. The program is funded by the Tactical Technology Office at DARPA.” Boston Dynamics

RHex is the corporation’s sturdy, waterproof rough terrain gizmo. It is able to swim on the surface of water as well as climb stairs.

RISE is able to climb vertically using micro claws.

It is easy to imagine these machines being used to search collapsed buildings, peek into enemy’s fortifications and so on. The trick is to decide who the enemy is. Words such as combatants, militants, factions are used routinely to justify sometimes heavy handed action.

These weapons falling into the hands of a dictator or an overzealous protector of the public peace could be used to spy on and intimidate peaceful protesters at gatherings like Occupy Wall Street.

Robots could be sent into crowds to intimidate and record identities without risking the presence of fallible police.

There used to be a TV show called Robot Wars where hobbyists would pit their creations against one another in an arena. It makes me wonder how long it will be until the arena for robot wars widens to the whole world.