Remote-controlled bomb sniffing rats

Remote-controlled rats are old news, but the researchers behind the original RC rat project have recently made another breakthrough, demonstrating the ability to switch on the rats' "sniffer dog" instincts at will. With the new super rats, a controller can steer the rat to a specific location, then switch on the critter's sniffing senses so they can locate drugs or explosives. The rats themselves are also trained to find the tiny chemical traces from drugs and explosives, so they presumably won't get distracted if someone is packing some cheese.

[solowCX @ Dec 19th 2005 2:14AM]

I remember reading about this on Yahoo! News like 2 years ago with that same picture... Old news, new story...

[stinky @ Dec 19th 2005 2:14AM]

dude, you're profound. the first line in engadget's write up is "remote-controlled rats are old news". now I'm sure you got distracted by the pictures - so many colours - but read the story before you get all prick-like.

personally, forget radio-controlled rats: i want super smart monkey butlers on roller skates.

[nojetlag @ Dec 19th 2005 2:14AM]

If you call them Donald, George, Paul and Dick all makes sense :D

[NegativeK @ Dec 19th 2005 2:14AM]

I love how the expensive rat is shown on a railroad track. *Squash!*

[Jacco @ Dec 19th 2005 2:14AM]

So do they bark when they find something suspicious?

[creamofcow @ Dec 19th 2005 2:14AM]

So terrorists and drug dealers just need to invest in some glue traps...

[yuppicide @ Dec 19th 2005 2:14AM]

It seemed like comment #1 got distracted by some cheese.

[Scott @ Dec 19th 2005 2:14AM]

Check it out, they programmed that rat to find trains. Looks like he's on the right track.

[Finishing.Law.School @ Dec 19th 2005 2:14AM]

is that rat the cause of the crash in Japan?

[OddManOut @ Dec 19th 2005 2:14AM]

When the rat can DEFUSE the bomb McGyveRat)...then I'll be impressed.

But in the mean time, if the rat snorts the drugs I'll likely be amused...