Globe fly rescue aid

Japanese researchers have invented what they call the "flying object of the future," which is used for search and rescue operations by flying in buildings weakened by earthquakes. or other natural disasters.

Inventor Fumiyuki Sato demonstrates flying ball control

The ball is about the size of a basketball, which is controlled by radio waves and can travel to places where people can not reach. " Because it's a sphere, it can land in many different places and roll over the ground ," said Fumiyuki Sato, a researcher at the Ministry of Defense's Department of Defense Research and Technology Development. This ball is made of ultra-lightweight carbon fiber and styrene, which weighs only 340g. It can fly for 8 minutes with a top speed of up to 60 km / h. During operation, if the lithium battery is out of power, the ball will roll down to the ground until it stops completely, to minimize the risk of damage.

Tests showed prototype products flying in the air, gliding through the corners and flying along the stairs. Sato said the cost of making the balloon was about 110,000 yen (about $ 28 million), with components mostly bought at electronics stores.