A University of Washington-led team has developed Smellicopter: an autonomous drone that uses a live antenna from a moth (brown arc on top of the drone) to navigate toward smells. The researchers also added two plastic fins (shown here in blue) on the back of the drone to create drag to help it be oriented so that it is constantly facing upwind.

A University of Washington-led team has developed Smellicopter: an autonomous drone that uses a live antenna from a moth to navigate toward smells. Shown here is lead author Melanie Anderson, a doctoral student of mechanical engineering, holding the Smellicopter.