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WATCH: The Age Of Skynet... Growing Drones In A Lab
Science fiction could be set to become science fact in the not-too-distant future.
The British military is already experimenting with the use of 3D printers to make parts quickly and efficiently near the battlefield, reducing or eliminating certain supply lines altogether.
Now, defence contractor BAE Systems wants to go to the next step: chemically 'growing' drones.
Professor Lee Cronin, of Glasgow University, is using industrial advice from BAE to develop a "chemputer".
The idea is to grow small drones in a lab, by speeding up the chemical reactions in the building process at the molecular level.
It is thought that this would greatly increase output, meaning an aircraft could be built in weeks rather than months or years.
However, Prof Cronin admits that it "would be very challenging" to do this.
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