China unveils mosquito-like micro-drone prototype
China's National University of Defense Technology has shown off a new microdrone that's literally the size of a mosquito—just 2cm long and weighing only 0.3gm.
It flaps its wings like a real insect and is meant for sneaky battlefield recon, but right now it's just a lab prototype with no real-world use yet.
Drone can only operate indoors for now
The drone's wings beat about 500 times per second, so it flies almost silently and is super tough to spot by radar or even in person.
But because it's so tiny, it can't really carry much gear, and adding cameras or sensors is tricky.
Plus, wind throws it off easily, so for now, it only works indoors.
Other similar drones around the world
China isn't alone here—militaries worldwide are racing to shrink drones down.
Norway has the 'Black Hornet,' which fits in your palm and handles weather better.
Harvard's 'RoboBee' also takes cues from nature.
China's new prototype shows they're serious about investing in next-gen spy tech that could change how information gets gathered on the battlefield.