India, Jan. 31 -- Enhanced navigation, smarter drones, more-versatile cameras and the blackest black fabric. there's a lot we're still learning from birds. Here are three intriguing research projects currently underway.

FROM BIRDS OF PREY, BETTER DRONES

At University of Surrey, researchers are working on a new type of drone that aims to mimic the remarkable aerial precision displayed by species such as owls and raptors.

The project, called Learning2Fly, was announced in August and will build drones and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) capable of weaving their way through tight spaces, dodging obstacles, and operating in unpredictable or rapidly changing wind conditions.

The idea was born of the question: How do some birds hunt so capab...