Scientists using special laser technology have crafted a pair of mini-spectacles (2 mm) and placed them on the head of a housefly.
This photograph is part of a science photo exhibit being held in Munich, Germany from March 20 to 25.
[Source: Jiji via Yahoo! Japan]
UPDATE 29/Mar/2006: Needcoffee.com posted a nice story about the origins of this photo.
UPDATE 31/Mar/2006: An old Micreon press release explains the rest.
On March 6 in Osaka, Japan, Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. (Tokyo) unveiled a mini-robot driven by a small wristwatch motor.
The two-wheeled robot -- called ?Eco-Be!? -- is 1.8 cm wide and 2.5 cm tall and is operated via infrared remote control.
At the unveiling, the tiny robot demonstrated the ability to move forward and backward, as well as turn smoothly from side to side. Eco-Be!, which is powered by watch batteries and features low power consumption, will make an appearance at RoboCup 2006 in Germany this June.
Citizen president Makoto Umehara says he hopes Eco-Be! will prove useful in the development of smaller and lighter weight robots. The company will conduct further research with Osaka University to improve the robot?s performance.
[Source: Hokkaido Shimbun Press]
