In ancient Greece, pigeons were used to deliver messages about the Olympic games. These birds have also been involved in smuggling drugs into prisons. Now, researchers in Vancouver have tasked pigeons with aiding in the design of more intelligent drones.
A study led by the University of British Columbia, detailed in Current Biology, outfitted homing pigeons with miniature backpacks containing a small computer and head-mounted cameras to monitor their eye movements during flight. The entire setup weighed around 27 grams, including a credit card-sized computer, a modified commercial camera, and sensors to track the birds’ movements and orientation.
Anthony Lapsansky, who conducted the research at UBC, mentioned the challenges of outfitting pigeons with the equipment, requiring meticulous effort and experimentation. By gradually introducing the gear, including fake backpacks, the pigeons acclimated to the devices.
The researchers worked with a group of approximately 16 pigeons released along familiar routes, enabling them to return to their home loft for data retrieval. The study revealed that pigeons make deliberate eye movements during flight to gather detailed environmental information.
Contrary to the belief that pigeons keep their eyes fixed while flying, the research indicated that they make subtle eye adjustments, suggesting a high-resolution view. The birds also demonstrated a unique ability to focus both eyes inward when landing, potentially processing depth information akin to humans.
Another recent study, published in the same journal, presented contrasting findings, suggesting that pigeons maintain fixed eye positions during flight. The differences in results may stem from the altitude and distance variations in the study methodologies.
The insights gained from pigeon behavior could influence drone design, with the potential for implementing movable cameras on drones to enhance their navigational capabilities. The adaptability observed in pigeons’ eye movements could inspire advancements in drone technology, improving functions like object detection and tracking.