Skip to main content

Wasp research may lead to smarter, more efficient drones

Researchers in Australia have been studying the flight behaviors of ground-nesting wasps, trying to learn how they navigate. The knowledge that they have gleaned from decades of research might be adapted for use in autonomous drones and could help roboticists develop smarter unmanned aerial vehicles and self-flying robots.

Unlike other bees that fly once around their nest for reconnaissance, the ground wasps are much more diligent, conducting daily flights that allow them to detect changes in their environment. The wasps then compare this new location information with the old data as they navigate the area and find their way back to their nests. “The learning and homing abilities of wasps make them smarter than anything humans know how to build,” said Professor Jochen Zeil of the Australian National University (ANU) Research School of Biology

Recommended Videos

As part of their research, the Australian researchers created a virtual wasp to study flight behavior and mechanics. The wasp models were designed using data the team collected from high-speed cameras that were positioned to follow wasp eye movements during flight. This 3D model made it possible for researchers to determine what a wasp sees when it is flying. Researchers discovered that the wasps were able to complete their complex task of navigation using a type of panoramic vision that allows them to take in a wide field of view at a lower resolution.

This panoramic view could be adapted for utilization in drones, which roboticists could equip with low-resolution cameras that have a wide field of view. A lower res camera potentially lowers the cost of building a drone and may influence the processing power needed to analyze this incoming navigation data. Less processing may also decrease energy consumption leading to better battery life and longer drone flights. “Roboticists look to replace expensive high-resolution cameras and reduce power consumption without losing information that is crucial for visual navigation, and our research could help with this,” said Zeil.

The wasp research, led by Wolfgang Stürzl from the Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics, German Aerospace Center, together with Australia’s Zeil, has been published recently in the journal Current Biology.

Kelly Hodgkins
Kelly's been writing online for ten years, working at Gizmodo, TUAW, and BGR among others. Living near the White Mountains of…
Sebastian Stan lays out Bucky’s future after Thunderbolts
Sebastian Stan in Thunderbolts.

There are some spoilers ahead for the ending of Marvel's Thunderbolts. Stop reading now if you don't want to be spoiled.

Earlier this year, Captain America: Brave New World briefly introduced a new direction for James "Bucky" Barnes, a character Sebastian Stan has been playing since 2011 in Captain America: The First Avenger. In Brave New World, the former Winter Soldier apparently retired from being a reformed hero and went into politics by running for Congress. Thunderbolts reveals that Bucky won his election to the House of Representatives. But his stay in Congress was short.

Read more
Jeep Compass EV breaks cover—but will it come to the U.S.?
jeep compass ev us newjeepcompassfirsteditionhawaii  4

Jeep just pulled the wraps off the all-new Compass EV, and while it’s an exciting leap into the electric future, there's a catch—it might not make it to the U.S. anytime soon.
This is a brand new electric version of the Jeep Compass, and being built on Stellantis' STLA platform—the same architecture underpinning models like the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008—it looks much slicker and packs a lot more inside than previous versions of the Compass.
Let’s start with what’s cool: the new Compass EV is packing up to 404 miles of range on a single charge, a 74 kWh battery, and fast-charging that gets you from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Not bad for a compact SUV with Jeep's badge on the nose.
There are two versions: a front-wheel-drive model with 213 horsepower and a beefier all-wheel-drive version with 375 horsepower. That AWD setup isn’t just for looks—it can handle 20% inclines even without front traction, and comes with extra ground clearance and better off-road angles. In short, it’s still a Jeep.
The design's been refreshed too, and inside you’ll find the kind of tech and comfort you’d expect in a modern EV—sleek, smart, and ready for both city streets and dirt trails.
But here’s the thing: even though production starts soon in Italy, Jeep hasn’t said whether the Compass EV is coming to America. And the signs aren’t promising.
Plans to build it in Canada were recently put on hold, with production now delayed until at least early 2026. Some of that might have to do with possible U.S. tariffs on Canadian and Mexican vehicles—adding a layer of uncertainty to the whole rollout.
According to Kelley Blue Book, a Stellantis spokesperson confirmed that the company has “temporarily paused work on the next-generation Jeep Compass, including activities at” the Canadian plant that was originally meant to build the model. They added that Stellantis is “reassessing its product strategy in North America” to better match customer needs and demand for different powertrain options.
So while Europe and other markets are gearing up to get the Compass EV soon, American drivers might be left waiting—or miss out entirely.
That’s a shame, because on paper, this electric Jeep hits a lot of sweet spots. Let’s just hope it finds a way over here.

Read more
Charlie Cox singles out his least favorite Daredevil: Born Again episode
Charlie Cox in Daredevil: Born Again.

Daredevil: Born Again season 1 was largely reconceived after the 2023 actor and writer strikes. Dario Scardapane -- a veteran of The Punisher series on Netflix -- was brought in to be the new showrunner and he made a lot of changes to the series that were well-received. However, there's one episode that Scardapane didn't really change at all, and it happens to be the least favorite episode of Daredevil: Born Again's leading man, Charlie Cox.

During an appearance on The Playlist, Cox noted that he wasn't very fond of the season's fifth episode, "With Interest," which was a largely standalone episode that featured his character, Matt Murdock, in a bank during a hostage crisis.

Read more