Science & Science Robotics cover paper
We reported our discovery of ‘directional Velcro’ between the flight
feathers of a wide range of birds in Science & the first biohybrid morphing
aerial robot–PigeonBot–with real feathers on the cover of Science Robotics. Our
research suggests that birds can steer with their fingers alone and shows what
makes the feathers of silent hunters like the owl so quiet. The research started
with Amanda Stowers (1
st PhD thesis Lentink lab) who collaborated
with Laura Matloff (1
st author Science paper) and Eric Chang (1
st
author Science Robotics cover paper) to develop PigeonBot inspired by our comparative
biomechanics research. The research could not have succeeded without our
collaborator Teresa Feo at the Smithsonian and several other students in the
lab (Lindsie Jeffries & Cole Thomson). This milestone represents the
culmination of our multidisciplinary team effort over many years.
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