Military-backed researchers in the US have a built a tiny flying robot that looks and moves like a hummingbird.
The remote-controlled drone — commissioned by the Pentagon's research unit Darpa — can fly for 20 seconds at a time by flapping its robotic wings, wired.com reports.
The Pentagon hopes to develop the invention further to the point where it can use the nature-inspired robots as mini spies.
The "nano air vehicle" would be used for secret indoor and outdoor government missions, such as dropping off listening devices.
Makers of the machine AeroVironment have been given an extra $2.6 million to make a more advanced prototype.
Darpa program manager Todd Hylton said he would like to see the machine eventually weigh less than 10 grams, be able to fly forward at speeds of up to 10 metres per second and withstand 2.5-metre-per-second wind gusts.
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