Russian startup develops pigeon 'bio-drones' with neural implants

The technology is being developed by Neiry Group, a Moscow-based startup.

The system works by implanting small electrodes into pigeons’ brains, which are inserted through the birds’ skulls and connected to a head-mounted stimulator that allows operators to steer them remotely. Cameras are strapped to the pigeons’ chests, while a solar-powered backpack houses a flight controller linked to the camera system.

Neiry said pigeons outperform conventional first-person-view drones due to their greater range, endurance, and ability to access hard-to-reach locations. The company claimed the birds can travel up to 400 km a day and could be used to monitor infrastructure, inspect industrial facilities, operate in restricted airspace, and support search-and-rescue missions.

A pigeon fitted with a brain implant and a camera. Photo courtesy of Neiry Group

Alexander Panov, Neiry’s chief executive, said the bio-drones have attracted interest from Russia, Dubai, and India, including a proposal to use them to monitor power lines, as reported by the Telegraph.

While Neiry insists the technology is intended for civilian purposes, experts have expressed skepticism. According to Korea Post, concerns focus on the potential misuse of animals as covert surveillance or delivery platforms.

James Giordano, professor emeritus of neurology at Georgetown University and a Pentagon science adviser, told Bloomberg that, in theory, such "bio-drones" could be used to transmit diseases into enemy territory.