That's the idea of a New Hampshire company that's been contracted to develop bug-like spies for the military.

“Look around, tell what's going on, and get a sense for what's happening before we have to commit putting people in there.”

“The military, along with Nashua-based BAE systems -- developed this simulation of what robo-bugs will ideally do. BAE has signed a 38 million dollar deal with the U.S. army research laboratory to make this a reality.

“The little bug robots will be able to carry any type of sensors, so, it could be video, it could be audio, it could be sensors looking for chemicals, for example, to tell if there's some kind of chemical in there, or even biological detection.”

Mike Heffron is president of the electronics and information systems group at BAE -- the division that will lead the micro autonomous systems and technology -- or mast -- project.

The insect model will allow troops to literally get a clear picture of a precarious setting in a way that is now physically impossible:

Something with wheels won't go over rocks very easily, where as we've seen bugs crawl up rocks, we've seen bats fly in windows.

The challenge -- how to make sensors and vehicles - i.e. the bugs, small enough for battlefield settings, yet comprehensive enough to get the job done. Cameras already exist the size of this eraser, but BAE engineers will have to develop cameras, audio, and other detection devices that are closer in size to the tip of this pencil.

Researchers will also have to figure out how to control the insect bots, and how to store and transmit the information they record.

That's really what the Engineering group here at BAE systems is looking forward to. That challenge of figuring out how to protect those that protect us.

There is no prototype yet -- advances in robotics, microprocessors, and power supplies only now allow this technology to evolve. Nine universities are signed on as collaborators for the project.

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