Bees are among the most hardworking creatures on the planet. But in many parts of the world, honeybee colonies are declining so quickly that even the United Nations is worried. About two-thirds of the crops that feed the world rely on pollination by bees and other insects. Without them, we’d be looking at an agricultural doomsday scenario. And this is exactly what a University of Maryland professor wants to avoid – with the help of an army of tiny drones.
Yiannis Aloimonos is developing RoboBeeHive, an artificial beehive that would house a bunch of small drones within a bigger, arm-length drone. This beehive will be able to attach itself to a tree, opening up to unleash a swarm of tiny drones.
According to a statement by the University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies:
The drones use artificial intelligence to autonomously navigate and avoid obstructions — animals, trees, or other drones busy spreading pollen — as they carry pollen…
