AI Case Study
Scientists at Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology are testing artificial cross-pollination of flowers with drones that mimics bees
Eijiro Miyako and his colleagues at Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology are developing a drone that mimics bees. The purpose of its use is transporting pollen between flowers, based on the principle of cross-pollination in bees. When tested, the drone successfully cross-pollinated Japanese lilies (Lilium japonicum). However, efforts to create an artificial alternative to bees hasn’t yet been fully successful, as the team is still working on developing autonomous drones that could help farmers.
Industry
Basic Materials
Agriculture
Project Overview
"Eijiro Miyako at Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, and his colleagues have used the principle of cross-pollination in bees to make a drone that transports pollen between flowers.
The manually controlled drone is 4 centimetres wide and weighs 15 grams. The bottom is covered in horsehair coated in a special sticky gel. When the drone flies onto a flower, pollen grains stick lightly to the gel, then rub off on the next flower visited."
Miyako’s team, however, is still working on developing autonomous drones that could help farmers. GPS, high-resolution cameras and artificial intelligence will be required for the drones to independently track their way between flowers, and land on them correctly. (rbth)
Reported Results
"In experiments, the drone was able to cross-pollinate Japanese lilies (Lilium japonicum). Moreover, the soft, flexible animal hairs did not damage the stamens or pistils when the drone landed on the flowers."
Technology
Function
R And D
Core Research And Development
Background
"About three-quarters of global crop species, from apples to almonds, rely on pollination by bees and other insects. But pesticides, land clearing and climate change have caused declines in many of these creatures, creating problems for farmers.
Pollination is needed for reproduction in flowering plants. Male flower parts, or stamens, produce pollen that fertilises female parts, known as pistils, to make seeds. In self-pollinating flowers, the stamen sheds pollen directly onto the pistil.
Cross-pollination, however, requires the transfer of pollen from one plant to another. This mostly relies on pollen becoming stuck to the bodies of bees and other insects when they feed on flowers, and then being deposited on the next plant they visit. It has advantages over self-pollination, in that it increases genetic diversity and improves the quantity and quality of crops."
Benefits
Data