"Bird-Inspired Drones Take Flight: Engineering Innovation in Action"
Originally Published 2 years ago — by NPR
What started as a satirical conspiracy theory about bird drones is now becoming a reality as engineers are trying to reverse engineer bird flight to create more efficient bird-like drones. By studying the efficiency and flexibility of birds' flight, researchers hope to improve drone technology. Some engineers have even outfitted taxidermied birds with drone components to better understand bird flight. Lessons from birds include wing structure, coloration, and flexibility, all of which could lead to more efficient and resilient drones. While the idea of bird drones raises concerns about surveillance, researchers are primarily focused on wildlife monitoring and creating vehicles that can do good things.