Lockheed Martin, US, has won a $1.7 m contract from US defense research agency DARPA to develop a nano air vehicle, according to a story at nanotechweb.

The remote-controlled device will be "the size and shape of a maple tree seed" and will be able to collect military intelligence indoors and outdoors. The system will incorporate a one-bladed wing, chemical rocket, sensor module, battery and communications, navigation and imaging kit.

Lockheed Martin will lead a team of developers that includes Sandia National Laboratories, AeroCraft, ATK Thiokol and the University of Pennsylvania. (photo from Lockheed Martin is of a larger remote-controlled device)