Boffins have come up with a novel, and creepy, way to study wildlife.
A team of biomimetic roboticists at New Mexico Tech have used taxidermy birds to create naturalistic drones which can then be used to monitor animals in their natural habitats.
Dr Mostafa Hassanalian developed the Frankenstein-like creations as an alternative to the noisy hexacopter and quadcopter which are often used to monitor wildlife, reports IFL Science.
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Not only are the traditional drones loud, they also pose a threat to wildlife if they get too close.
Dr Hassanalian and his team hope these new zombie drones will be so natural, they can capture nature close up. Having already nailed the flying zombie drone, the team are now working on making a taxidermy drone for use in water — out of a dead duck.
Dr Hassanalian said: “The use of a taxidermy duck significantly enhances its hydrodynamic properties.
“The natural shape and feather structure of a real duck reduces water resistance, allowing smoother and more efficient movement through the water.
“Additionally, the waterproof properties of the duck's feathers, combined with their natural buoyancy, help maintain stability and prevent drag, which is challenging to replicate with artificial materials.”
Ducks aren’t the only bird to have a second life. Dr Hassanalian and his team are also bringing pigeons back from the dead, with a drone that has realistic head movements.
“The pigeon cameras are designed to collect environmental monitoring data in a way that is non-intrusive and blends seamlessly into the environment,” Dr Hassanalian explained.
“We aim to capture high-resolution images and videos for applications such as wildlife research and studying bird behaviour.”
The nutty professor added that realistic pigeon drones will be able to observe interactions without “disturbing the animals or drawing attention”. The team are also working on giving the drone a perching mechanism by integrating shape memory alloys into the bird’s claws.
The team hope to expand their zombie drone collection to slithering snakes, climbing lizards and jumping frogs.
All of the animals used have been legally acquired through certified taxidermists and have died of natural causes.
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