The University of Amsterdam has developed a system for the migration to investigate. This uses Mems chips from STMicroelectronics. The university wants, as migration patterns of birds better investigate.
The Mems chips from STM contain several components, including gps to identify the position of the birds. In addition, there are in the chips, accelerometers and a digital compass built in. With this hardware, researchers will be able to adjust the vertical and horizontal orientation of the birds to determine, as the angle at which the birds are flying relative to the horizon.
The whole system weighs as much as a 20-eurocentmunt and is smaller than a car key, so claims the university. This is to ensure that the birds there is not too much trouble, and their behavior is not distorted. The information collected should ensure that the scientists, for example, migration patterns of birds. Also, the collected data help to further research into climate change: earlier research has shown that the change of the climate influence on the migration of birds.
Currently the University of Amsterdam developed system is tested by institutes that bird research. It is still unclear when the first results can be presented.