The nature-inspired “ornithopter” concept has taken on an entirely new meaning after researchers built drones not only modeled after birds, but made from their corpses. An ornithopter is a type of aircraft designed to emulate the flight mechanics of birds and other flying animals (i.e. insects and bats) by incorporating wing-flapping. Think Dune’s dragonfly-reminiscent ‘thopters. In reality, attempts to build such craft capable of carrying humans have seen minimal success, but advancements in drone technology have given the design new direction. Shrunk down, it’s been made viable for other purposes, like observation.
That is, unfortunately, where taxidermy bird drones come in. Yes, drones made from the body parts of actual birds, which researchers at New Mexico Tech are exploring as a “more seamless and natural” approach to “wildlife monitoring.” In theory, a lifelike bird drone could fit right in with the flock without causing any disturbances, the team explains in a recent paper. The implications for other types of surveillance need no spelling out (though the researchers have done so anyway, noting the drones could be used for government or military spying, per Interesting Engineering). Suddenly, those Birds Aren’t Real truthers don’t seem so parodical anymore.
Flight Of The Living Dead
The bird drones, presented at the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics SciTech 2023 Forum, aim to make artificial machinery more covert by masking it with natural parts. “It is discovered that although it is difficult to create such a drone, it is very practical for research purposes and can keep nature undisturbed,” the researchers write in the paper's abstract. Alas, just because one can doesn’t necessarily mean one should.
In an example from the paper, the team combined a pheasant’s taxidermy body with a pigeon’s wings to create a true Frankenstein’s monster of a drone, with visible wires and flapping mechanisms stuffed inside. Another, more polished specimen featured on researcher Mostafa Hassanalian’s YouTube channel is much more convincing. That is, until you see it fly.
At the moment (thankfully) the drones’ flight capabilities are extremely limited, though the team has identified a number of solutions to smooth out some of the kinks. There’s also the option to add legs, the researchers note, “so that the drone can perch and monitor without using much battery.” Or, perhaps, they could just scrap the idea altogether instead.
Source: AIAA SCITECH 2023 Forum, Interesting Engineering, Mostafa Hassanalian/YouTube