The rise of the micro air vehicle

UAVs (Unmanned air vehicles) are now a regular feature of modern warfare. Widely used for reconnaissance, and increasingly deployed in an offensive capacity, the technology is developing fast — with engineers adding ever-increasing levels of autonomy and performance improvements that could soon put UAVs on a par with manned aircraft.

But while the current generation of UAVs are undoubtedly useful, armed forces around the world are increasingly talking of the need for smaller, more agile systems that can be easily transported and operated by troops on the ground.

Enter the world of the MAV (micro air vehicle), a fevered area of research that’s leading to the development of tiny unmanned air vehicles able to peer around corners, fly into buildings and generally keep troops out of harm’s way.

Dr Stephen Prior

Engineers have been talking about MAVs or Nano Air Vehicles for more than decade, but recent improvements in batteries and other key electronic components mean that the technology is now becoming more practical and affordable.