Drone robots are about to become smarter.

According to a report posted on EurekAlert on Friday, numerous research teams are currently taking inspiration from animals and nature as they work to create the next generation of flying robots. From flying through areas with plentiful obstacles to picking up objects for delivery, drones can learn a lot from birds and other fixtures of nature. The success of a flying robot depends, obviously, on the exactitude of its flight control, and nothing has more meticulous flight control than the creatures who are born with the gift of flight.

The groups proving this point and putting it into practice are scattered at research institutions across the United States. One group, situated at Harvard, has been working on a millimeter-sized drone that can explore small, cramped, or otherwise difficult to reach areas. The drone takes its inspiration from flies or other winged insects, hovering in the air for extended periods of time. The group believes that such small drones could be used for everything from gaining a further understanding of the insect population to actually pollinating plants.

Other research groups, such as those at UNC Chapel Hill, Johns Hopkins University, or the University of California, are trying to figure out ways to design drones that can handle the elements, from hot and cold to rain and heavy gusts of wind. These teams have been specifically focusing on designing wind-proof drones, and are looking at the hawk moth to figure out how to do so. Studies have included placing hawk moths in whirlwind chambers and observing them as they retain or regain flight control, despite the adverse conditions.

14 papers in total, from these universities and others, were published recently in a special issue of the journal Bioinspiration and Biomimetics.