Small brains, big compute: Scientists want to build GPS chips that work like a honeybee's brain

EU researchers are developing GPS chips that mimic honeybee brains to dramatically reduce power consumption in navigation technology. Honeybees navigate complex 3D environments and process 10 trillion operations per second using only 10 microwatts of power—one million times less energy than traditional processors. The team uses nanophotonic circuits that guide light through extremely small structures to create specialized chips for environmental sensing and autonomous robots, though commercial applications may still be a decade away.