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Evidences of Rubūbiyyah: The Hummingbird Spy Drone and the 'Appearance of Design'
Posted by Abu.Iyaad on Monday, April, 28 2014 and filed under Articles

This is one of thousands of examples that can be given of the closing gap between technological innovation and biological systems. In fact, we see a convergence whereby biological systems are being reproduced technologically to produce smarter, more efficient, intelligent artifacts or studied to gain insights for more efficient design. In the example below, it is the information, the program, that is embedded into the hummingbird drone, that determines and controls all of its operations. It is the same in all biological systems. All biological systems are designed to behave and operate the way they do. It is pure arrogance to deny this. However, this undeniable self-evident reality is challenged - not through sound reason or the scientific method - but through a prior metaphysical assertion of naturalism (matter self-creates and self-organizes intelligently). This prior assertion has not been arrived at by the scientific method (it is assumed) - and it is an insult to sensory perception and intelligence. The scientific method proves the exact opposite (which is what this example illustrates) - that designed things require knowledge, will, power and wisdom - the sum of human technological and industrial enterprise is the experimental proof of that. To challenge this, is simply a display of pure arrogance in the face of the obvious and it is in this vain that we read the statement of Dawkins and what is similar to them, "Biology is the study of complicated things that give the appearance of having been designed for a purpose." (The Blind Watchmaker, 1996).

Fir'awn (Pharoah) said to Moses, arrogantly: (قَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ وَمَا رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ) (26:23), "And what is the Lord of the Worlds?" - this was pure arrogance, because his soul knew the truth and reality - since souls retain the innate ability to recognize self-evident rational truths, despite arrogance trying to drown that natural disposition (fitrah). Hence, Moses did not entertain any argument with him and simply stated boldly and clearly, to pierce and demolish that arrogance, (قَالَ رَبُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا إن كُنتُم مُّوقِنِينَ), "Moses said: The Lord (Creator, Owner) of the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them, if you seek to be convinced with certainty" (26:24). The obviousness of this in fitrah (innate disposition), hiss (sensory perception) and aql (reason) did not require any other answer, as it is clear that it is arrogance that is being dealt with, not reason.

Watch the video below:

The hummingbird is in itself a proof of the wujood aynee (actual real existence) of its creator. Just as the hummingbird spy drone is in itself a proof of the wujood aynee of those who created it through knowledge, skill, power and intended wisdom. This is a self-evident truth, simple logic and reason that cannot be challenged by any scientific method or standard. The way it is challenged is by first assuming naturalism to be true (matter self-creates and self-organizes, intelligently) - and then constructing conjectures (about origins of the universe and life) around that metaphysical belief, then employing the scientific method in attempts to validate those conjectures. That is the reality of what is taking place and that is the sum of their knowledge.

From Phys.Org:

The Hummingbird's bird-shaped body is removable but it gives the bot an uncanny resemblance to a real hummingbird. The vehicle can hover and maneuver just like the bird. The ornithopter can fly into buildings under the control of an operator flying the spybot with the help of a feed from its tiny video camera. The prototype is capable of flying at speeds of up to 18 km/h (11 mph) and weighs 19 grams, which is about the same as an AA battery.

Manager of the project, Matt Keennon, said it had been a challenge to design and build the spybot because it "pushes the limitations of aerodynamics." The specifications given to the firm by the Pentagon included being able to hover in an 8 km/h wind gust and being able to fly in and out of buildings via a normal door.

The spybot was developed for the US military's research arm, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The hummingbird appearance is intended to disguise the bot, although it would look decidedly out of place and would attract attention in most places in the world since hummingbirds are not found outside of the Americas.

DARPA's head of the Nano Air Vehicles (NAV) program. Dr Todd Hylton, said the successful flight tests pave the way for new vehicles that resemble small birds and match their agility. The new drone is a departure from existing NAVs, which in the past have always resembled helicopters or planes.

The current model is a prototype and more development is required before any decisions are made on its deployment. Keennon said he expected the flight time to improve as the spybot develops, and said he envisaged it could be used for reconnaissance purposes in around a decade. He also said the final version is unlikely to look like a hummingbird, which is rare even in parts of the US, and he thinks a sparrow would be a better choice.

The US military has funded the project, giving AeroVironment around $4 million since 2006.