The Robot Research Center at Shandong University of Science and Technology recently developed a robot-controlled pigeon that "understands" and follows human-directed computer commands. A reporter visiting the university said that a pigeon wearing a microelectrode hat can accurately follow a series of instructions to take-off, spiral, fly around the lab and land in accordance with a computer's directions. This is the world's first robot-controlled bird.

According to the Dazhong Daily, animal robots, also known as robot-controlled animals or intelligent animals, are controlled by artificial neural signals. The Shandong University of Science and Technology transmitted computer-generated coded signals to microelectrodes implanted in the pigeon's brain, which stimulate the pigeon's nerve nucleus.

The study is of great significance in the field of national defense. The technology can also be used widely in such things as monitoring, aerial photography and bird studies.

By People's Daily Online