Smallest flying robot takes off

Scientists in the US have created a robot the size of a fly that is able to perform the agile manoeuvres of the ubiquitous insects.

This "robo-fly", built from carbon fibre, weighs a fraction of a gram and has super-fast electronic "muscles" to power its wings.

Its Harvard University developers say tiny robots like theirs may eventually be used in rescue operations - for example, navigating through tiny spaces in collapsed buildings in search of survivors.

The development is reported in the journal Science.

In this clip, the tiny robot demonstrates its flying abilities.

Footage courtesy of Kevin Ma and Pakpong Chirarattananon, Harvard University