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    • Researchers in New Mexico develop drones from dead birds
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    Researchers in New Mexico develop drones from dead birds

    Harry Posted on

    The research team at New Mexico Tech built and tested pheasant, mallard duck and pigeon drones and robots. The principal investigator wants them to be used to monitor wildlife, but their uses may vary.

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    Zombie birds are no longer a part post apocalyptic fiction; They may be among us soon. But in their newfound life, the birds are not looking for brains. They are used to go further wildlife research.

    Researchers at the New Mexico Tech Institute of Mining and Technology in Socorro have spent the past two years developing drones and robots from the bodies of dead birds. The animatronic birds, currently in the testing phase, could be used to study bird formations, colors and communication, as well as other natural ecosystems.

    These bird-like drones could solve some of the problems wildlife researchers have with traditional drones, said Mostafa Hassanalian, principal investigator and professor of mechanical engineering at New Mexico Tech.

    “Sometimes birds get hit. Birds attack your drone. Your drone gets damaged and at the same time the birds get injured or they can die,” Hassanalian said. he said. “Drones carry a lot of noise. For example, if you’re monitoring a herd of elephants in Africa for wildlife viewing, they carry a lot of noise and the animals get scared and disperse.”

    Hassanalian hopes that by creating “nature-inspired robotic systems,” researchers can achieve greater success in wildlife studies.

    Here’s what you need to know, including whether bird drones can be used outside the animal kingdom:

    Different birds for different purposes

    Hassanalian and his students worked with the bodies of three different bird species throughout their research.

    The first is a pheasant. Using a real taxidermy pheasant head and pheasant wings, the research team tested the creation of a drone with flapping wings. The goal was to create a drone that could blend in more naturally with other pheasants for monitoring wildlife.

    To create a realistic drone, the team studied the pheasants’ wings, flapping patterns, thrust and lift forces, among other characteristics.

    The research team also worked with dead mallard ducks to create two different types of robots – a swimming robot and a flying drone. The latter was designed and tested similarly to the pheasant; The first required some new research and testing.

    Rather than focusing on recreating wing flapping, the focus of the swimming duck robot was to recreate feet that accurately mimic those of a duck gliding through water and diving below. Similar to aerial birds, the swimming duck robot can be used to monitor aquatic wildlife.

    The research team’s latest work centers around stationary pigeons.

    “They have a camera around their neck and it can basically do real-time video or broadcast,” Hassanalian told USA TODAY. “Let’s say you go to a national park and you want to study the wildlife and you want to have a fixed platform – there are probably some drones used for that… You could put one of those up there (in a tree). You can record your life.”

    Finally, Hassanalian said that he wanted to create a bird robot that can fly, swim and perch.

    How do other birds react to drones, robots?

    Although the research team has carried out meticulous research to accurately recreate the different birds, they do not actually yet know how other birds will react to them. So far, the research team has only tested drones and robots in controlled environments on the New Mexico Tech campus, Hassanalian said.

    “We know it’s hard for them to get attacked by other birds, but it’s part of nature,” Hassanalian said with a laugh.

    Hassanalian said the research team is considering getting permission to fly the drones among real birds in non-simulated environments.

    Where do dead birds come from?

    All of the birds Hassanalian and his team used are naturally dead.

    “They’ve all been ‘taxed’ by certified taxidermists. We buy them and try to play with them,” he said. “We don’t ask a taxidermist to kill a bird and then taxidermise it and give it to us.”

    Surveillance potential

    Hassanalian and his research team are currently only interested in studying the use of bird-like drones to aid in wildlife observation, but recognize the technology could also be used for surveillance.

    “For the future… taxidermy bird drones could be integrated for border protection,” Hassanalian said. “That’s another potential application. We haven’t looked at it, but I’m just talking about the potential application.”

    During work on this project, Hassanalian was briefed on security concerns and how bird-like drones could be used for espionage purposes.

    Various bird-centered conspiracy theories, Birds Aren’t RealIt has grown in popularity over the years, but Hassanalian said his research is not related to any of them. Birds Are Not Real, which gained attention due to the COVID-19 pandemic, claimed that all real-life birds were replaced by “surveillance drones” in the 20th century. Despite its large following, Birds Are Not Real was not an actual conspiracy but rather an online joke.

    “I didn’t know about this conspiracy theory until I did this project,” Hassanalian said. “The possibility of any technology being reused in unintended ways is a valid concern. While our research aims to support scientific and environmental initiatives, we recognize that any technology can be misused if it falls into the wrong hands. It is therefore always crucial to ensure appropriate regulations, ethical practices and practices in the development and use of drones.” having rules and public dialogue.”

    As for drones being used for espionage purposes, Hassanalian said that’s not something he or his research team supports.

    What’s next?

    In addition to his work with bird drones, Hassanalian is also researching the creation and application of dandelion-inspired drones to aid in seed dispersal.

    “Bees are endangered… they have a very important role in seed dispersal,” he said. “The dandelion drone we developed can also be used to disperse seeds, and bird drones can actually carry dandelion drones for seed distribution in much more environmentally friendly ways.”

    Although this practice is still a long way from becoming a reality, this research could have an impact on bee extinction and pollination in the natural world.

    Hassanalian said he is also interested in creating and testing reptile and amphibian drones, such as lizards, frogs and snakes.

    Greta Cross is a national trends reporter for USA TODAY. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretalcross. Story idea? Email him/her [email protected].

    Harry
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