Scientists in China have found a way to control pigeons remotely by
implanting minute electrodes in their brains.
Researchers at the Robot Engineering Technology Research Center at China's
Shandong
University of Science and Technology have developed a computer system which
allows them to tell the birds to fly left, right, up or down.
Chief scientist Su Xuecheng told Chinese state media that the experiments
mark the first successful attempt to control a pigeon's flight. Similar
experiments on mice had been carried out by the team two years ago.
The technique has a variety of practical uses, such as helping amputees to
use mechanical limbs and controlling animals fitted with cameras to search large
areas or disaster zones.
Experiments at
Arizona
State University earlier this year, funded by the
US
Neural Prosthesis Program, used a monkey to control a robotic arm.
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