No, this isn't a punk rock pigeon with a crimson mohawk. In actual fact it's a bird that can now receive computer commands through electrodes in its brain from the device attached -- somewhat cumbersomely, it seems -- on top of its head.
Scientists from the Robot Research Center at the Shandong University of Science and Technology in Qingdao, China, performed the work, which enables them to direct the pigeon's flight (take off, hover, fly forward, turn right or left) by remote control.
The researchers said that the pigeon was under anaesthesia when the device was attached and that it doesn't feel pain in its head. Somehow that seems unlikely to mollify animal rights activists.
Here is a closer look at the microelectrode, shown off by Shandong University researchers earlier this week. The implants stimulate various regions of the pigeon's brain. Similar experiments have been carried out with rats (aka, 'ratbots').
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