In Russia, remote-controlled pigeons will monitor industrial facilities.

Remote‑Guided Birds as Bio‑Drones

Russia has completed flight tests of one of the most unusual unmanned technologies to date: a flock of neural‑controlled “bio‑drones” developed by Neiry. Instead of a mechanical drone, the system uses a real bird equipped with a brain‑implanted neurochip.

The chip connects to a stimulator and a controller housed in a lightweight backpack. Solar panels provide long‑term autonomy, while navigation relies on GPS and auxiliary systems. The operator uploads a flight mission just like with a standard UAV. Through targeted neural stimulation, the bird effectively "wants" to fly in the required direction.

Natural Behavior, High Survival

The neurochip is implanted using a stereotaxic system that places electrodes precisely in the necessary brain regions. Neiry’s engineers aim for a 100% survival rate.

After surgery, the birds live normal lives and do not experience loads different from their natural behavior. Initial tests covered short distances, with long‑range flights of several thousand kilometers planned next.

A Universal Platform for Industrial Monitoring

This creates possibilities for monitoring power‑transmission lines, gas nodes, coastal zones and offshore facilities — areas where endurance and long‑distance flight are essential.

The birds require no training: once the neural implant is installed, the animal completes a flight mission as predictably as a classical drone. The cost of a single bio‑drone is comparable to conventional drones of the same class, but autonomy is significantly higher.

In 2024, Neiry and scientists from Moscow State University connected a rat’s brain to an artificial intelligence model via an invasive neural interface — allowing the rat, nicknamed Pythia, to answer questions. In 2025, Neiry announced neural‑chip implants for cows to increase milk yield.