Chinese scientists have transformed a normal pigeon into a robot bird that can be deployed for a number of uses, including national defence, the state media reported.
Scientists in Qingdao city in east China's Shandong Province implanted electrodes in the brain of the pigeon to control its behaviour and flight remotely by electrical stimulation.
"The electric stimulation is precisely controlled by computer programmes," said Su Xuecheng, director of the project from Shandong University of Science and Technology.
So far, scientists are able to order the pigeon to perform many complicated tasks like take-off and landing, as well as turning right and left during flight.
Robot birds will be put in use for rescue, photography, mapping, and even national defence, Xinhua news agency said.
"The robot bird is better than traditional mechanical ones, as there is no need to worry about power failure.
"Besides, birds are much more flexible than common robots, particularly in a harsh environment," Liu Xiaofeng, a researcher said.
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