Engineers at Lockheed Martin Corp. (Bethesda, MD) are developing a tiny remote-controlled device that will be able to collect military intelligence indoors and outdoors. The aircraft will be similar in size and shape to a maple tree seed.
The nano air vehicle (NAV) will be approximately 1.5 inches long and have a maximum takeoff weight of 0.35 ounces. A chemical rocket enclosed in its one-bladed wing will power a sensor payload module more than 1,100 yards.