Russian neurotechnology startup Neiry has successfully demonstrated pigeons fitted with brain implants that can be remotely piloted like drones, marking the first known commercial deployment of neural-controlled “bio-drones.”
In field tests conducted this month in Moscow, pigeons equipped with stereotactic brain electrodes and lightweight backpack avionics followed pre-programmed flight paths over distances of several hundred kilometers, returning to base without traditional training. Onboard cameras transmitted real-time video while AI software automatically blurred faces and license plates to comply with Russian privacy law, the company said.
Neiry’s chief technology officer Vladimir Komarov told reporters the system allows operators to “upload a route directly into the bird’s motivation centers,” effectively making the pigeon believe the desired path is its own idea. The company claims a 100 percent post-surgical survival rate and says the birds experience no detectable distress.
The project, partially funded by Russia’s National Technology Initiative and the Russian Direct Investment Fund, is pitched as an industrial tool for inspecting power lines, pipelines, and remote infrastructure where traditional drones struggle with battery life or regulatory restrictions. Neiry plans to begin commercial deliveries in 2026 and is already developing versions using ravens, seagulls, and albatrosses for heavier payloads and maritime operations.
Animal-rights organizations condemned the tests. “Implanting electrodes into the brains of sentient birds for corporate profit is a new low in human exploitation of animals,” said Maria Voronova, spokesperson for the Russian branch of PETA.
Western defense analysts noted the technology’s obvious dual-use potential. “A pigeon carrying a high-resolution camera or small sensor package can loiter far longer than any battery-powered quadcopter and is virtually undetectable,” said Samuel Bendett, adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security.
Neiry CEO Alexander Panov rejected suggestions of military applications, stating: “Our focus is purely civilian. We are helping industries that already rely on animals work more efficiently and humanely.”
Neiry says it has already received inquiries from energy companies in Siberia and search-and-rescue teams in the Russian Far East. Pricing and exact technical specifications remain undisclosed.
