The CIA's amazing RC "animals" - from the '70s

GameboyRMH writes: If you were impressed at the remote-controlled ornithopters released in recent years, then this will really knock your socks off: In the 1970s, the CIA developed and tested a remote-controlled ornithopter that was disguised as a dragonfly — and at roughly the size of a dragonfly, as seen in the video. It was intended to be used as a platform for listening devices. This "insectothopter" was laser-guided and powered by a tiny gasoline engine built by a watchmaker. While its performance was impressive, difficulty controlling the tiny craft in crosswinds made it impractical, and the idea was scrapped.

The article also mentions a robo-squid, and has information on a remote-controlled fish (video) that is also very impressive. View the original source for some other interesting spy gadgets on the CIA's Flickr page.

Plus there was hardly any need?

[sznupi]

Between strong arming some places, numerous classic ways to plant a bug in others, and denying any involvement in general, was there even much place for such "dragonfly" in practice?