No, this isn't a punk rock pigeon with a crimson mohawk. Rather, the bird now can receive
computer commands through electrodes in its brain from the device attached--rather cumbersomely,
it seems--atop its head.
Scientists from the Robot Research Center at the Shandong University of Science and Technology
in Qingdao, China, performed the work, which enables them to direct the pigeon's flight (take off,
hover, fly forward, turn right or left) by remote control. The researchers said that the pigeon was under
anesthesia when the device was attached and that it doesn't feel pain at the head. Somehow that seems
unlikely to mollify animal rights activists.
Here is a closer look at the microelectrode, shown off by Shandong University researchers
earlier this week. The implants stimulate various regions of the pigeon's brain. Similar
experiments have been carried out with rats (aka, "ratbots").
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