The 'iFR-II' robot chopper is equipped with a camera and can transmit still images, said the company, a leading ink-jet printer maker.

The prototype aircraft is larger than its predecessor, the 'iFR', but weighs less at 8.6 grams (0.30 ounces) without its polymer-lithium battery compared with the earlier model's 10 grams.

Seiko Epson Corp. claims this makes it the world's lightest robot helicopter, which is not for commercial use as yet.

The company said the lighter weight was made possible by developing a new gyro-sensor which is just a fifth the weight of the one mounted on the prototype. Gyro-sensors give devices high-performance motion correction and stability.

The company said the latest model had no cord and thus had a wider flight range compared with the previous model unveiled in November, which was operated by remote control with a 1.5-meter-long (5.0-foot-long) cable connected to an electric generator.

All rights reserved. copyright 2018 Agence France-Presse. Sections of the information displayed on this page (dispatches, photographs, logos) are protected by intellectual property rights owned by Agence France-Presse. As a consequence, you may not copy, reproduce, modify, transmit, publish, display or in any way commercially exploit any of the content of this section without the prior written consent of Agence France-Presse.