Was Maduro spied on by insect-sized microdrones?

RoboBee microdrones. Photo: Thierry Falise / LightRocket via Getty Images

From time to time, stories surface in the media about "mosquito-sized microdrones" allegedly used in special operations, capable of discreetly penetrating premises, conducting surveillance, and even assisting in the capture of important individuals. Such stories appear particularly frequently when it comes to covert operations where there is a lack of verified information.

For instance, some media outlets, describing the operation to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, mentioned the use of "microdrones." However, this phrase itself can mean very different things. "Microdrones" often refer to truly experimental devices with wingspans of only a few centimeters, as well as miniature mass-produced drones the size of a palm — and this is an important distinction.

RoboBee

Indeed, the USA has developments in insect-sized microdrones. One of the most iconic projects in this field is RoboBee, developed in the Harvard University Microrobotics Laboratory.

The world learned about it in 2013. In its classic version, RoboBee weighs about 80 milligrams, and its wingspan is approximately 3 centimeters. The robot's wings are made of thin carbon fibers and polymer film; they are capable of performing up to 120 flaps per second, allowing the device to hover in the air and perform complex maneuvers.

RoboBee's capabilities gradually expanded: scientists taught it to dive into water and swim, using the same wings as fins, and then take off from the water surface again, which was previously considered impossible for devices of this mass due to surface tension forces.

For a long time, one of the robot's main weaknesses was that it could barely land safely: even a slight collision with a surface or a botched landing would break the delicate actuators and wings.

In 2025, Harvard engineers demonstrated an important improvement — they equipped RoboBee with long, flexible "legs," like those of a crane fly. They act as shock absorbers, absorbing the initial impact and stabilizing the robot upon contact with the surface. And an updated control algorithm slows the device before contact and ensures a smooth landing.

These improvements are a step towards the full autonomy of RoboBee, which is currently connected to external control systems by wires. In the future, scientists plan to equip it with embedded sensors and a battery.

RoboFly

Another iconic American project is RoboFly, created by researchers at the University of Washington. This model, presented in 2018, was a significant step forward specifically in terms of autonomy.

RoboFly weighs about 190 milligrams, which is comparable to the weight of a real fly. Unlike RoboBee, the device uses an innovative energy transfer system: it is equipped with a miniature photovoltaic panel, onto which a laser beam is directed from a distance. An embedded electronic circuit amplifies the 7 volts received from the laser to the 240 volts needed for the piezoelectric actuators that move the wings.

This allows RoboFly to perform autonomous takeoff and landing. But it's important to understand the limits of the technology: the robot can only fly when the laser remains precisely aimed at its panel. In the future, scientists hoped to embed tiny batteries in the body to collect energy from radio waves.

HI-MEMS

Parallel to the development of purely mechanical devices, the USA also had an even more futuristic project, HI-MEMS (Hybrid Insect Micro-Electromechanical Systems).

The history of HI-MEMS dates back to the mid-2000s when military researchers decided to use a live insect as a "platform" into which electronics would be integrated. The main concept was to introduce microelectronics into the organism already at the larval stage.

Experiments in this area mentioned, for example, hawk moths and large beetles. These insects are significantly larger than RoboBee: a moth's wingspan can reach 10 centimeters, and the weight of the payload they can carry ranges from 1 to 3 grams.

The capabilities of such hybrids are unique: electronic implants are embedded in nerve ganglia or muscles, allowing an operator to determine the insect's flight direction using radio signals.

In theory, such systems could have an advantage because the "engine" becomes a living organism that runs on internal bioenergy, not batteries. Microphones, gas analyzers, or even miniature video cameras can be installed on them, turning an ordinary moth into a high-tech scout that raises no suspicion.

Against this backdrop, a natural question arises: if the US has RoboBee, RoboFly, and HI-MEMS, does this mean that such microdrones are in service? There is no definitive answer. In 2021, the US Air Force confirmed the development of its own miniature drones, but there have been no further news about any ready technologies or their deployment.

Black Hornet

However, something else is definitely known: the American military uses a very small mass-produced drone called Black Hornet, developed in Norway.

Павялічыць

A serviceman demonstrates the Black Hornet drone. Photo: Flir.com

This is a miniature drone for tactical reconnaissance, fitting in the palm of a hand and controlled via a small handheld remote control using a digital communication channel with GPS. It is equipped with cameras and transmits video and photos in real-time, allowing soldiers to safely look "around the corner," peek over a wall, or check a suspicious area without direct risk.

However, the Black Hornet is not a "fly-sized drone": its dimensions are approximately 16 × 2.5 cm, and its weight with the battery is about 18 grams.

• 20
• 1
• 1
• 1
• 2
• 0
• 0
• 0