Scientists have devised a robot that flies like a bird using real feathers — could this be the future of fighter jets?

Ever watched a bird swoop through the air, effortlessly twisting and turning, and wondered: why can’t planes do that? For years, scientists have been trying to answer this question, particularly around one peculiar design choice in airplanes: the vertical tailfin. This stabiliser is crucial for steady flight, yet it adds weight and drag. Without it, planes would be far more fuel-efficient. So why hasn’t aviation cracked this bird-like mystery yet?

Turns out, the key to solving this conundrum may have been hiding in plain sight — or, more accurately, in a pigeon’s feathers.

A robot with real feathers

PigeonBot II is a robotic bird built by David Lentink, Professor of Biomimetics at the University of Groningen, and his team. Unlike your average flying robot, this one isn’t just inspired by nature — it’s decked out with real pigeon feathers and mimics how birds adjust their wings and tails mid-flight.
Using nine servo motors and a clever algorithm, PigeonBot II reflexively reshapes its wings and tail, just like real birds. These adaptive movements provide stabilisation without the need for a vertical fin, demonstrating a feat of engineering once thought impossible.

Back in 1929, German scientist Franz Groebbels suggested that birds fly like "automatic airplanes," stabilising themselves without external controls. Nearly a century later, Lentink’s PigeonBot II has finally proven him right. The robot not only aced wind tunnel tests but also soared autonomously in the open air, its feathers responding seamlessly to every gust and tilt.

From feathered flights to fighter jets

What does this mean for aviation? First off, PigeonBot II opens the door to fuel-efficient airplanes. By ditching the vertical fin and adopting bird-inspired stabilisation, planes could save energy and reduce emissions — great news for eco-conscious travelers.

But there’s another exciting twist: stealthier fighter jets. A plane without a vertical tailfin has a smaller radar signature, making it harder to detect. Imagine jet fighters gliding invisibly, twisting and turning like birds of prey in the sky.

The European Airbus group has already envisioned this kind of tailfin-less aircraft, and Lentink’s work provides the scientific foundation to make it a reality.

Why feathers make the difference

What makes bird wings so special? Lentink’s earlier research showed that feathers aren’t just decorative — they play an active role in flight. Birds use their feathers to adjust wing shape in real time, a skill PigeonBot II replicates. Unlike rigid airplane wings, feathered wings offer flexibility and reflexive movement, adapting to turbulence and maintaining balance. It’s nature’s version of a high-tech stabilisation system, honed over millions of years of evolution.

While we’re not quite at the stage of boarding feathered jumbo jets, PigeonBot II is a big step forward. From greener commercial planes to stealthier fighter jets, this quirky little robot could redefine the future of flight.

The findings of this research have been published in Science Robotics and can be accessed here.