Robotic cockroaches influence, exploit living clans
By Darren Murph 
posted November 16th 2007 11:21AM
posted November 16th 2007 11:21AM
Strangely enough, we've seen robotic roaches in action before, but a new report focusing on nature's influence on mechanical creatures substantiates some of our worse fears. Apparently, a team of researchers led by Jose Halloy of the University Libre de Bruxelles in Belgium crafted "cockroach-sized robots that interacted with their living counterparts." The critters themselves did not actually resemble cockroaches, but they were doused with chemicals to mimic the authentic aroma; subsequently, these autonomous pests were able to persuade a clan of real roaches to choose a poor (light) shelter over a dark alternative, sparking worry that humanoids may one day use these very tactics to lead us straight to our demise. On the real, the gurus behind the research are looking at the trials to "explore decision-making mechanisms in group-living animals," which when you think about, really isn't any less frightening.[Image courtesy of ETHZ]
This sounds like a great way to control pest population, and luckily humans have higher intelligence, free will, etc... which prevents our demise.So I really doubt throwing a scent on a metal robot will trick us therefore I don't think this is frightening.
http://thenaturalsapphirecompany.com/
Then again, make a robot look convincingly like Charlize Theron, and half the population would blindly walk off a cliff for her/it.
"autonomous pests were able to persuade a clan of real roaches to choose a poor (light) shelter over a dark alternative.."
Great, but can it persuade them to stop eating my Raisin Bran.
rjay, perhaps having roaches should persuade you to clean your house :P.
Oh no I think you may be wrong on that. Have you seen mob mentality in action? Add a little fear to the mix and is does not take much to get a bunch of people to go in one direction. I can easily see a terminator type robot infiltrating a group of people and convincing them to go the wrong direction on purpose...
Plus a Charlize Theron robot could get a bunch of guys to do ANYTHING. I not only welcome our new Charlize Theron robotic overlords..... I pray for it to happen. Oh yeah.....
Please spare us the "I for one" jokes.
I for one welcome our robotic cockroach ov-DO THE COCKROACH ROBOTS BLEND!?!?
The cockroach is the only living creature capable of surviving the force of a Blendtec Blender. When Blendtec Blenders take over the world and destroy all humans, cockroaches will inherit the Earth.
Thats a really cheap way of getting attention from the same over-used phrase that you're chastising.
The robotic cockroaches however have yet to gain the trust of the dead cockroaches.
that's incredible... i wonder how far they can take this level of control
put your 4th foot in... take your 4th foot out... put your 4th foot in, and shake it all about~
Day-o, Dayyyyyy-o
I bet 20 Quatloons on the newcomer!
I bet THIRTY Quatloos!
Well, in the future, if the robots smell nice and look like Six (from BSG) or 7-of-9 (from ST-VOY) then I shall follow them robots to my demise. No questions asked.
Seven of nine was not a robot. WTF. Cyborg != robot.
OMG, please robo-cockroach, please lead your bio counterpart to the cockroach-trap!
Now, I need a robo-mouse/rat to do exactly the same thing ...
"No thanks, Mom. I'd rather make out with my Monroe-bot."
"Gee Mavis, that's an awful long way to go for making out..."
Finally, instead of one step closer to a Skynet, we're actually one step closer to a Screamer.
Where's Peter Weller when you need him?
Will they survive nuclear fallout?
Too late. Californians are already following the Terminator.
Says the cockroach-sized robot to its living counterpart, "Come with me, if you want to live."
"Careful, you got some bad cockroaches there."
"I'll cut you up! I'll cut you up real good!"
"Those are some bad cockroaches."
lol this just turned into a futurama quotefest - love it
that was family guy. shame! shame on you! :)
These are not the cockroaches you are looking for.
All your roaches are belong to us
Add some frickin' lasers.
I thought there would have been a Fifth Element cockroach spy joke by now.