Australian kestrels may hold the key to helping drones hover

The wind hovering behaviour of the bird of prey is the closest representation in the avian world to fixed wing aircraft', says researcher

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When researchers were hunting for a way to make drones fly more smoothly as they delivered food and packages, they turned to an unusual source for inspiration: the common kestrel.

RMIT and the University of Bristol researchers began tracking the flight motions of two Australian kestrels. They attached reflective markers to the birds and analysed their motion using a motion tracking system - the same technology used to create CGI effects.

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