[log in to unmask] (mailto:[log in to unmask])  writes:

There is  talk about robot bees doing pollination
That's another misrepresentation.  The military has funded studies of  bees 
for robotics, but as far as I know (and I've strong ties to this   type of 
research)  they've no interest in developing mechanical  pollinators.  
 
They  are interested in how  bees coordinate activities as a  group, 
especially the dynamics of foragers searching fields.  They are also  interested 
in how insects fly.   They literally want to have a  semi-autonomous bunch of 
tiny robotic drones for searching, spying, carrying  things, retrieving 
things, etc. ---  NOT pollination. 
 
But when a reporter asks a scientist, could these robots be used to  
pollinate crops, and if the scientist says something like, 'well possibly, but  it 
wouldn't be cost-effective', the story instantly becomes "Scientist says  
robotic bees are being developed for crop pollination."
 
Anytime a reporter starts a sentence with; " could you  say ........."  and 
you say yes, expect to find ....... in quotes as something you   said.  
Never ever answer the question "could you  say" unless you  truly agree with 
the statement.
 
Jerry

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