Scientists have created a tiny drone capable of pollinating plants:
The device is about the size of a hummingbird, and has four spinning blades to keep it soaring. With enough practice, the scientists were able to maneuver the remote-controlled bot so that only the bristles, and not the bulky body or blades, brushed gently against a flower's stamen to collect pollen [open, DOI: 10.1016/j.chempr.2017.01.008] [DX]—in this case, a wild lily (Lilium japonicum), they report today in Chem. To ensure the hairs collect pollen efficiently, the researchers covered them with ionic liquid gel (ILG), a sticky substance with a long-lasting "lift-and-stick-again" adhesive quality—perfect for taking pollen from one flower to the next.
The current version is not autonomous and must be piloted by a human.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Saturday February 11 2017, @12:16AM
What do you think the Predator/Reaper drones' remote pilots will be doing once discharged?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Ethanol-fueled on Saturday February 11 2017, @03:49AM
Going to work for Lockheed Martin and General Atomics making 5 times what they did in the military, and with better benefits.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Saturday February 11 2017, @06:27AM
Say... what? Did Lockheed Martin and General Atomics diversified in the business of RC quadricopter mediated pollination? (grin)
Seriously speaking now, some may do so. But unless LM or GA decide to open the DASA (drone-as-a-service) business, I don't know what the two businesses will do with thousands of retired drone operators (say a couple of hundreds per generation, 5-8 generations to retirement sounds plausible)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford