Scientists and researchers are getting inspiration from nature in designing the next generation of drones. 

According to a special issue of the journal Bioinspiration and Biomimetics, 14 research teams will reveal their latest experiments with drones, which would include a drone that looks like a bird with a 'bird-grasping' abilities and another with swarm-like capabilities. 

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The report said that the new drones, whose designs were inspired by bats, flying snakes, birds and insects, could be useful for everything from military surveillance to search and rescue operations. 

David Lentnik, professor and aerial robotic expert from Standford University, said these nature-inspired drones are they way forward for drone development technology. He said evolution has provided the solution to problems drone engineers are trying to address. 

The report added that one of the biggest challenges researchers faced was how to design drones that could survive extreme weather conditions such as extreme cold, heat and even strong winds. 

To address these, the researchers conducted experiments on hawk moths that can battle different whirlwind conditions in a laboratory setting. The purpose of the experiment is for the researchers to understand the hawk moths' flight mechanisms. 

In another experiment, a team from Hungary developed an algorithm that would mimic a flock of birds as they swarm and flock together in the air. 

Dr. Mirko Kovac, director of the aerial robotics laboratory at Imperial College in London, is excited about the future of drones. His team of reseachers and designers are currently working on drones that can 'perch' on trees and other objects. They are designing robots that could act as mobile networks of sensors. 

Kovac said there is so much these robots can accomplish - from observing and protecting wildlife to measuring pollution and conducting rescue operations in times of calamities. 

Tagsdesign, flying drones, nature, evolution, Bioinspiration and Biomimetics