LANGLEY, Virginia - The United States Central Intelligence Agency once built a mechanical dragonfly to carry a listening device but found small gusts of wind knocked it off course so it was never used in a spy operation.

The agency also tested a 600mm-long rubber robot catfish named Charlie capable of swimming inconspicuously among other fish and whose mission remains secret.

Charlie and the dragonfly were among spy gadgets displayed at CIA headquarters in an exhibit to mark the 40th anniversary of the directorate of science and technology. It is not open to the public.

"Charlie's mission is still classified, we can't talk about it," Toni Hiley, curator of the CIA museum, told Reuters on a tour of the exhibit. "All we can say is he's our work on aquatic robotic technologies."


Completely fascinating article that proves, if nothing else, that the CIA is at least partially an excuse for secret government people to make fun toys and play with them all day long.

Comments

Popular Posts