Retail giant Walmart has filed a patent for autonomous robotic bees who will be used to pollinate crops. Precipitated by the decline of natural honey bees, which nourish 1/3rd of human food supplies but are dying off at an unprecedented rate from a phenomenon known as colony collapse disorder, the pollination drones have been in development for years.
Harvard University researchers first introduced Robobees in 2013 and they have advanced significantly since then. The tiny autonomous drones patented by Walmart are now amphibious, remotely controlled, and capable of detecting pollen.
The new patent comes alongside several other patents, including tools for identifying pests, monitoring crop health, and an online grocery service.