Robot bees vs real bees – why tiny drones can't compete with the real thing
Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Researchers in Japan have been exploring the potential of using miniature drones covered with sticky hairs to act like robotic bees to counter the decline of natural pollinators. open image in gallery Drones have a lot of catching up to do to match our existing pollinators Pollination is complex task and should not be underrated. open image in gallery The hairs on the drones are engineered to ‘lift and stick’ pollen To solve this, bees learn and specialise on a specific flower so they can handle them quickly and efficiently. I could see these drones being used in the environments that are unsuitable for natural pollinators, such as a research lab where precision is needed in the crossing of plant breeds.
Drones carrying soap bubbles may help pollinate flowers where bees cannot: Study
As bee populations dwindle, robot bees may pick up some of their pollination slack
Discover Related
Designing for a Sustainable Future: Devendra Jani's Insights
‘All we could do was watch’: Beekeeper mourns millions of bees killed in Mountain fire
Pollution affecting pollinators and other beneficial insects, study finds
Why is all the buzz only around honey bees, ask researchers
10,000 bees ground a CHP helicopter. A beekeeper comes to the rescue
Researchers trial native pollinators as varroa mite threatens European honey bee
Bees and hoverflies are key to growing more fruit and veg in cities
Can insects have culture? Puzzle-solving bumblebees show it's possible
Breeding bees better suited to rainforest areas a labour of love for Queensland couple
The importance of bees in the future of the ecosystem
How burger packaging, weeding robots, and self-powering devices can help save the world
The importance of bees 蜜蜂的重要性
Gardeners urged to plant natives in bid to help battling native Australian bees
What you need to start planting and stop spraying to keep bees healthy and happy
Video of bees working together to open a Fanta bottle attracts millions
Wasps just as important to ecosystems and human health as bees, scientists say
Milan gets buzzier with 1 million bees in designer hives
Drones vs hungry moths: Dutch use hi-tech to protect crops
Drones vs hungry moths: Dutch use hi-tech to protect crops
National Honey Bee Day: Everything you need to attract pollinators into your garden
Air pollution killing giant Asian honey bees: Study