December 04, 2025

Pigeon-Drones are Here


Pigeon-Drones are Here
Portrait of a pigeon head. Dori, Wikimedia Commons.

At a Moscow conference on November 25, Neiry, a Russian company, unveiled its latest creation: pigeon drones. According to the developers of the "biodrone," their technology has reached a level that enables an initial pilot use in infrastructure monitoring.

Neiry is a Russian neurotechnology firm with a clientele that ranges from the Moscow government to Western companies, including Unilever, L'Oréal, and Boeing. At their annual NeiryConf, they introduced their latest invention: pigeons with neural interfaces connected to their brains that can operate as drones.

According to Neiry, electrodes will be grafted onto the pigeons' brains, which will be connected through a cable to a stimulator placed in a special backpack tied to the birds' backs. An operator will be able to control the pigeon's flight just like a drone, thanks to a neurochip. The system uses GPS technology; solar panels power the drones.

Each Neiry bird will carry a camera. According to the company website, the recording device "operates on the same principle as numerous cameras in public spaces." Neiry claims that all personal objects will be erased from the pigeons' footage, and faces will be blurred using artificial intelligence.

According to the company, the price of their biodrones will be comparable to that of regular drones. However, Neiry claims that their neurochip-controlled pigeons offer longer flight times and can cover more distance than their polymer-made counterparts. The developers claim that the device is safe for pigeons, with a 100% survival rate after the chip implantation surgery. The lifespan of a biodrone is comparable to that of a non-brain-controlled bird. News website URA.RU claims the device is "safe for use in urban environments."

Neiry markets its biodrone PJN-1 for environmental and industrial monitoring, as well as for searches or rescue operations. There is no mention on the firm's website as to whether these devices will be used for military purposes.

Reportedly, Neiry intends to export its pigeon-drone technology to the global market. And company founder Alexander Panov does not intend to stop at pigeons: the CEO is envisioning expanding to crows, seagulls, and albatrosses to cover a broader range of environments and carry heavier loads. 

Soon, birds may indeed not be real after all...

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