Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) flies in Encinitas, California September 26, 2007. (Xinhua/Reuters File Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhuanet) -- Japanese researchers, getting ideas from the effective mechanism of natural life forms, have developed a "hummingbird robot" that can flutter around freely in mid-air with rapid wing movements, according to media reports Tuesday.

    The robot, a similar size to a real hummingbird, is equipped with a micro motor and four wings that can flap 30 times per second, said Hiroshi Liu, the researcher at Chiba University east of Tokyo.

    It is controlled with an infrared sensor and can turn up, down, right or left.

    The robot, which weighs 2.6 grams (0.09 ounces), can fly in a figure of 8 more stably than a helicopter with rotor blades, said Liu.

    Liu said that the next step is to make it hover to stay at one point in mid-air, adding that he also plans to equip the 2.1 million dollars robot with a micro camera.

   (Agencies)