December 04, 2025

Pigeon-Drones are Here


Pigeon-Drones are Here
Portrait of a pigeon head. Dori, Wikimedia Commons.

At a Moscow conference on November 25, Neiry, a Russian company, unveiled its latest creation: pigeon drones. According to the developers of the "biodrone," their technology has reached a level that enables an initial pilot use in infrastructure monitoring.

Neiry is a Russian neurotechnology firm with a clientele that ranges from the Moscow government to Western companies, including Unilever, L'Oréal, and Boeing. At their annual NeiryConf, they introduced their latest invention: pigeons with neural interfaces connected to their brains that can operate as drones.

According to Neiry, electrodes will be grafted onto the pigeons' brains, which will be connected through a cable to a stimulator placed in a special backpack tied to the birds' backs. An operator will be able to control the pigeon's flight just like a drone, thanks to a neurochip. The system uses GPS technology; solar panels power the drones.

Each Neiry bird will carry a camera. According to the company website, the recording device "operates on the same principle as numerous cameras in public spaces." Neiry claims that all personal objects will be erased from the pigeons' footage, and faces will be blurred using artificial intelligence.

According to the company, the price of their biodrones will be comparable to that of regular drones. However, Neiry claims that their neurochip-controlled pigeons offer longer flight times and can cover more distance than their polymer-made counterparts. The developers claim that the device is safe for pigeons, with a 100% survival rate after the chip implantation surgery. The lifespan of a biodrone is comparable to that of a non-brain-controlled bird. News website URA.RU claims the device is "safe for use in urban environments."

Neiry markets its biodrone PJN-1 for environmental and industrial monitoring, as well as for searches or rescue operations. There is no mention on the firm's website as to whether these devices will be used for military purposes.

Reportedly, Neiry intends to export its pigeon-drone technology to the global market. And company founder Alexander Panov does not intend to stop at pigeons: the CEO is envisioning expanding to crows, seagulls, and albatrosses to cover a broader range of environments and carry heavier loads. 

Soon, birds may indeed not be real after all...

You Might Also Like

A Pretty Penny to Park
  • November 30, 2025

A Pretty Penny to Park

Across Russia, the prices of parking spots are rising faster than the prices of housing.
Cars for the Front
  • November 23, 2025

Cars for the Front

The Russian state reports that more than 5,000 vehicles confiscated from criminals have been sent to serve in the war in Ukraine.
Referencing Putin
  • November 20, 2025

Referencing Putin

Data show a long-term upward trend in academic mentions of Vladimir Putin in Russia. 
Sci-fi Author, Meet Dystopia
  • June 14, 2022

Sci-fi Author, Meet Dystopia

A well-known science fiction author has been placed on the Kremlin's wanted list for protesting the war in Ukraine.
Birchpunk, an Internet Gift
  • November 20, 2021

Birchpunk, an Internet Gift

Despite how weird it looks, birchpunk is a fun and talented hip hop group asking important moral questions.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

A Taste of Russia
November 01, 2012

A Taste of Russia

The definitive modern cookbook on Russian cuisine has been totally updated and redesigned in a 30th Anniversary Edition. Layering superbly researched recipes with informative essays on the dishes' rich historical and cultural context, A Taste of Russia includes over 200 recipes on everything from borshch to blini, from Salmon Coulibiac to Beef Stew with Rum, from Marinated Mushrooms to Walnut-honey Filled Pies. A Taste of Russia shows off the best that Russian cooking has to offer. Full of great quotes from Russian literature about Russian food and designed in a convenient wide format that stays open during use.

Survival Russian
February 01, 2009

Survival Russian

Survival Russian is an intensely practical guide to conversational, colloquial and culture-rich Russian. It uses humor, current events and thematically-driven essays to deepen readers’ understanding of Russian language and culture. This enlarged Second Edition of Survival Russian includes over 90 essays and illuminates over 2000 invaluable Russian phrases and words.

Steppe
July 15, 2022

Steppe

This is the work that made Chekhov, launching his career as a writer and playwright of national and international renown. Retranslated and updated, this new bilingual edition is a super way to improve your Russian.

Life Stories
September 01, 2009

Life Stories

The Life Stories collection is a nice introduction to contemporary Russian fiction: many of the 19 authors featured here have won major Russian literary prizes and/or become bestsellers. These are life-affirming stories of love, family, hope, rebirth, mystery and imagination, masterfully translated by some of the best Russian-English translators working today. The selections reassert the power of Russian literature to affect readers of all cultures in profound and lasting ways. Best of all, 100% of the profits from the sale of this book are going to benefit Russian hospice—not-for-profit care for fellow human beings who are nearing the end of their own life stories.

Little Golden Calf
February 01, 2010

Little Golden Calf

Our edition of The Little Golden Calf, one of the greatest Russian satires ever, is the first new translation of this classic novel in nearly fifty years. It is also the first unabridged, uncensored English translation ever, and is 100% true to the original 1931 serial publication in the Russian journal 30 Dnei. Anne O. Fisher’s translation is copiously annotated, and includes an introduction by Alexandra Ilf, the daughter of one of the book’s two co-authors.

Fearful Majesty
July 01, 2014

Fearful Majesty

This acclaimed biography of one of Russia’s most important and tyrannical rulers is not only a rich, readable biography, it is also surprisingly timely, revealing how many of the issues Russia faces today have their roots in Ivan’s reign.

The Latchkey Murders
July 01, 2015

The Latchkey Murders

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin is back on the case in this prequel to the popular mystery Murder at the Dacha, in which a serial killer is on the loose in Khrushchev’s Moscow...

Jews in Service to the Tsar
October 09, 2011

Jews in Service to the Tsar

Benjamin Disraeli advised, “Read no history: nothing but biography, for that is life without theory.” With Jews in Service to the Tsar, Lev Berdnikov offers us 28 biographies spanning five centuries of Russian Jewish history, and each portrait opens a new window onto the history of Eastern Europe’s Jews, illuminating dark corners and challenging widely-held conceptions about the role of Jews in Russian history.

The Little Humpbacked Horse
November 03, 2014

The Little Humpbacked Horse

A beloved Russian classic about a resourceful Russian peasant, Vanya, and his miracle-working horse, who together undergo various trials, exploits and adventures at the whim of a laughable tsar, told in rich, narrative poetry.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955