"What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?" asks Regina Dugan, then director of DARPA, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. In this breathtaking talk she describes some of the extraordinary projects -- a robotic hummingbird, a prosthetic arm controlled by thought, and, well, the internet -- that her agency has created by not worrying that they might fail. (Followed by a Q&A with TED's Chris Anderson)

Regina Dugan: From mach-20 glider to hummingbird drone

From mach-20 glider to hummingbird drone

Embracing failure as a stepping stone, DARPA's innovations like the internet and robotic hummingbird redefine the possible.

From flapping-wing drones to thought-controlled prosthetics, DARPA's projects highlight the power of fearless innovation.

DARPA's quest for Mach 20 travel and nano-gecko adhesives showcases the blend of audacity and pragmatism driving tech frontiers.

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TED Stage Talk