- Researchers reverse-engineered the Australian kestrel to improve drone stability in gusty winds.
- Vertical gusts cause 25–100 times more lift variation than horizontal gusts in small wings, a key challenge for low-altitude drones.
- Kestrels use over 22 degrees of freedom, lightweight bodies, and distributed feedback systems to adjust instantly to turbulence.
- A robotic replica revealed that synchronized wing and tail movements provide lift without attitude changes, unlike conventional drones.
- The tail acts as a stability dial, allowing real-time adjustments between stability and maneuverability.
- Feathers and sensory structures (filoplumes, mechanoreceptors) provide real-time airflow detection and automatic adjustments.
- Future steps include studying the kestrel's predictive turbulence sensing and applying findings to larger aircraft with industry partners.