Japanese researcher unveils 'hummingbird robot'

Hummingbird robot "CHIBA, Japan — Japanese researchers said Monday they had developed a 'hummingbird robot' that can flutter around freely in mid-air with rapid wing movements.

"The robot, a similar size to a real hummingbird, is equipped with a micro motor and four wings that can flap 30 times per second, said Hiroshi Liu, the researcher at Chiba University east of Tokyo."

"The robot, whose development cost has topped 200 million yen (2.1 million dollars), may be used to help rescue people trapped in destroyed buildings, search for criminals or even operate as a probe vehicle on Mars, he said.