Drones built to look like birds evaded detection at Air Force tech exercise

A drone developed by Ornadyne, called the O1 ornithopter, was able to evade detection at a recent Air Force tech exercise in the Mojave Desert due to its ability to mimic the flight mechanics and appearance of a bird. The O1 drone uses flapping wings instead of propellers and can change its color, wingspan, proportions, and silhouette to match a native bird species in a particular region. It can fly for over an hour and carry a small payload, such as a camera, for surveillance missions. Ornadyne's co-founders claim that the drone was able to evade detection systems built by other private companies, with the sensors registering the O1 as a bird rather than a drone. Ornadyne is not the first company to develop a bird-like drone, but the O1's ability to evade detection makes it a notable innovation in the field. The exercise, called 'Game of Drones', was the first time the O1 was tested against detection systems built by other private companies. The O1 weighs 1 pound and can fly up to 10 kilometers, or about 6 miles, for over an hour. The company's founders believe that the O1's ability to blend in with its environment will make it a valuable asset for surveillance and intelligence gathering missions.