NASA’s new ‘hive’ drones can deploy hundreds of tiny robot insects to monitor weather

In order to learn more about the planet’s weather and atmospheric conditions, NASA has made and tested some insect-inspired ‘hive’ drones that further deploy swarms of more tiny robot insects.

NASA recently tested an insect-inspired swarm of drones – a large, host ‘Hive’ drone, each carrying 25 little drones called ‘CICADAS’ that detach from the host’s underbelly in order to fly around and learn more about the atmosphere and weather.

NASA will be sending bees to Mars before humans

Video Courtesy: NASA Langley Research Center/YouTube

According to Futurism, in a video of the initial test flight, each little CICADA is equipped with air pressure, wind speed, and temperature sensors that activate as soon as the tiny drones soar over to the ground, steering themselves in circles as they catch drafts of wind.

The CICADA (Close-in Convert Autonomous Disposable Aircraft) was initially built by the US Navy for other purposes than monitoring the weather, as per CNET. “Cicada is a concept for a low-cost, GPS-guided, micro disposable air vehicle that can be deployed in large numbers to ‘seed’ an area with miniature electronic payload,” as per the Navy.

Furthermore, NASA has also created more insect-inspired drones including ‘Marsbees’, robotic bees that could help rovers better explore our neighboring Red Planet.