Would it be possible to create a mosquito drone like the one below and use it to inject a target with some deadly poison like Novichok?
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1$\begingroup$ The quick answer is yes, but there is a lot of information you are leaving out that is required for a truly accurate answer. What is the technology level. How far is this mosquito meant to be operated from. How do you plan to see where its going or track its position. How long is it meant to operate for. How much poison will it need to deliver. These factors can skew the viability of such a small drone. $\endgroup$– ShadowzeeCommented Jan 8, 2019 at 5:47
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2 Answers
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An artificial drone or an armed insect?
- An artificial drone would push technology as we know it. Still, there are drones like this university project. A three-letter agency with a black ops R&D budget should be able to do something smaller, with a camera and stinger.
- An armed insect would bring problems of fire control. Is it practical to aim it at a specific human?
So yes, probably, but it would be fragile and difficult to handle.
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It's already possible to control live insects via implanted electrodes. As far as I know the technology is limited to relatively big insects like the giant flower beatle or big moths, but as miniaturization of technology advances, smaller electrodes can be fused with smaller insects.
In the case of the moth, the electrodes are implanted into the insect while it's in the pupa stadium and the internal organs rearrange themselves around the electrodes.
A mosquito is really tiny compared to the existing "insect remote control", though. If you don't want to handwave decades of development away, you should stick to a bee or wasp. They have a natural deposit of poison that should be easy to replace (with an artificial container so you don't poison the insect) and the actual sting could be controlled like the flight. They are not as invisible as a mosquito, but most people don't run panicky from a bee because they usually don't sting without provocation.
