We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Engineering

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What are Some Possible Applications of Micro Air Vehicles?

Michael Anissimov
By
Updated: May 21, 2024
Views: 7,966
Share

A micro air vehicle is a remote-controlled, unmanned aircraft vehicle (UAV) significantly smaller than typical UAVs. For instance, the Predator drone, considered a standard UAV as of 2008, is about 8.22 m (27 ft) in length. Micro air vehicles are much smaller, as much as a foot or so in diameter, but preferably smaller, 6 inches in diameter or less. Micro air vehicles promise to revolutionize warfare, and many operate on the same general principles of flight as birds or insects do, being of similar size.

Micro air vehicles are currently in the development stage -- there aren't really any micro air vehicles that are deployed on the battlefield and used regularly, except for some small reconnaissance airplanes. Most people working on micro air vehicles are doing so for the military, usually the US military. The goal is to create craft less than six inches in diameter which can hover, navigate through tight urban environments, and have the capability of perching, all while sending data to a ground team. This would be invaluable to military operations, where up-to-the-minute recon information can be a matter of life or death.

Although not discussed as frequently, micro air vehicles, when actually developed enough that they can actually be deployed, are likely to be used for combat as well. This use would be similar to the tracked SWORDS robotic system which can be mounted with a machine gun and instructed to fire on enemy combatants. Micro air vehicles mounted with a small handgun or dart system would be even more lethal, as they would be smaller, less noticeable, and let's not forget, have the ability to fly.

Outside of the military, micro air vehicles could have applications in entertainment, security, and logistics. Imagine an array of 5,000 micro air vehicles, each equipped with luminous lights, hovering in the sky and dancing in a complex pattern. Such a display might even eclipse the age-old awe of fireworks. In security, the applications would be similar to those in the military -- surveillance. There could be ethically thorny issues regarding the use of automatic robots being used to kill intruders. The US military has stated that it always plans to keep a human in the loop when it comes to making decisions about killing other human beings.

Share
All The Science is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Michael Anissimov
By Michael Anissimov
Michael Anissimov is a dedicated All The Science contributor and brings his expertise in paleontology, physics, biology, astronomy, chemistry, and futurism to his articles. An avid blogger, Michael is deeply passionate about stem cell research, regenerative medicine, and life extension therapies. His professional experience includes work with the Methuselah Foundation, Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence, and Lifeboat Foundation, further showcasing his commitment to scientific advancement.
Discussion Comments
Michael Anissimov
Michael Anissimov
Michael Anissimov is a dedicated All The Science contributor and brings his expertise in paleontology, physics, biology...
Learn more
Share
https://www.allthescience.org/what-are-some-possible-applications-of-micro-air-vehicles.htm
Copy this link
All The Science, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

All The Science, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.