ExoFly, a flying insect-sized aerobot, is destined to charter the surfaces of Mars. Based on the DelFly, a dragonfly-like micro air vehicle (MAV) developed at the Delft University of Technology and Wageningen University, the ExoFly is modified and equipped with a camera to explore Mars, possibly Venus or the moon Titan.

The design is lightweight with the current prototype weighing a mere 17 grams, a length of 400mm, and a wingspan of 350mm. Equipped with a lithium polymer cell battery, it has a flight time of 12 minutes. There may also be plans through cooperative efforts between the universities and Ursa Minor Space & Navigation to increase the weight to 20 grams in order to add a solar energy panel and lengthen its traveling distance to 15 km.

Programmed in C++, it will most likely be able to gather data and images to simulate a 3D environment for detailed analysis and studying.

The size of the ExoFly would allow it to become part of the infrastructure of a larger planetary exploration mission. The aerobot would be able to reach areas that cannot be regularly accessed, such as rock crevices, for further geological study. Its insect like form and flight method is much like a dragonfly, allowing it to hover and navigate in all directions. The flapped wing flight allows it to be well suited enough to perfectly traverse the low density and highly vicious Martian atmosphere.

No mention of NASA interest in this aerobot yet, although Gordon Freeman was seen blasting a couple of these to bits in City 17.