Science

Scientists develop remote control system for cockroaches

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Scientists from North Carolina State University are working on remotely controlable sensor-equipped cockroaches
One of the "backpack"-equipped remote-control Madagascar hissing cockroaches
The NCSU team has already successfully used the technology to guide cockroaches along curved lines on the floor
Scientists from North Carolina State University are working on remotely controlable sensor-equipped cockroaches
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Much to the annoyance of home-owners everywhere, cockroaches are amazingly tough, and they’re able to squeeze into remarkably small spaces. These are some of the same qualities that researchers would like to see in tiny reconnaissance robots that could perform tasks such as searching earthquake-damaged buildings for survivors. Such adaptable, robust mini-robots would be quite challenging to create, however. A team of scientists from North Carolina State University are working on an alternative – sensor-equipped real cockroaches that are remotely controlled by human operators.

The project is being led by Alper Bozkurt, an assistant professor of electrical engineering. His team has fitted Madagascar hissing cockroaches with “backpacks” containing an inexpensive, lightweight, commercially-available chip, along with a wireless receiver and transmitter, and a microcontroller.

That microcontroller is wired into the cockroach’s antennae and cerci. Located in the abdomen, the cerci are sensory organs that detect air movement in order to warn of possible approaching predators. When the cerci are instead stimulated by the microcontroller, the result is the same as it would normally be – the cockroach thinks that something is coming at it from behind, and scuttles forward.

In order to direct that forward movement, either one of the antennae are stimulated. Ordinarily, they’re activated when they brush against unyielding objects, letting the cockroach know that it can’t move in that direction. In this case, when the stimulation comes not from an object but from a small electrical charge, the insect still reacts by changing course.

The microcontroller also monitors the interface between the cockroach's tissue and the implanted electrodes that deliver the charges, in order to avoid neural damage.

While it still may be some time before cyborg roaches bearing tiny cameras or other devices possibly powered by implantable biofuel cells become commonplace, Bozkurt’s team has already successfully used the technology to guide cockroaches along curved lines on the floor. Some of the trials can be seen in the video below.

Source: North Carolina State University

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6 comments
Piper0822
Isn't this almost exactly what was used in "The Fifth Element"?
Michael Mantion
BEST THING EVER.. better then the wheel..
Yes I am completely serious. One small step for cockroach, one giant leap for man kind
Dan Vasii
Hey! The correct term for this contraption wouldn't be "biobot"?
Dave Andrews
Wow, that's really awesome! And yes, Piper, The Fifth Element is what came to mind for me as well.
Fantastic development. Could be super-useful here in the U.S. when miners are trapped in mines and such.
SpaceBagels
This is animal cruelty! Why don't these maniacal scientists leave these little creatures alone!
3razer
Spacebagel, progress needs its labrats. And roaches are not even rats!!