UBC study says pigeons’ eye movements could help drones navigate
Homing pigeons eye movements reveal how birds judge depth in flight See how UBC research could inspire smarter drone cameras and navigation
Researchers at the University of British Columbia studied how homing pigeons move their eyes in flight, using small backpacks and headmounted cameras to record their behaviour.
The team found that pigeons make subtle eye movements while flying and may use both eyes together when landing, which could help them gather more detail about their surroundings and judge depth.
The findings, published in Current Biology, could inform future drone design by showing how autonomous aircraft might use moving cameras or sensors to improve navigation and perception in the air.