One Source for Power Supply - Charges virtually any technology that charges via a USB cable, including smartphones and phones, iPads and Kindles, iPods and other MP3 players, GPS units, tablet computers, etc.

ENGADGET: Timbuk2 Power Commute carries your gadgets, keeps 'em charged for $199 (hands-on)

Advances in fuel cell technology could give them the range and power source that Choset has been looking for.

CNN: Snake robots slither to the rescue

However, standing in one of the country's 30 solar plants -- overlooked by sand dunes on all sides, Dawoud tells CNN that he hopes that solar technology may eventually offer a viable alternative energy source to power the UAE's huge desalination needs.

CNN: Counting the carbon cost of bringing water to the desert

The current model of robo-fly is tethered to a small, off-board power source but Dr Ma says the next step will be to miniaturise the other bits of technology that will be needed to create a "fully wireless flying robot".

BBC: Robotic insect: World's smallest flying robot takes off

Among them: an agreement for the United States to assist China in improving its "clean coal technology" at its growing number of coal-fired power plans, a major source of greenhouse gas emissions.

CNN: AllPolitics - Progress Expected During U.S.-China Summit