Researchers create robo-moth, dream of a cyborg cricket-filled future
By Donald Melanson 
posted Jul 14th 2009 1:06PM
posted Jul 14th 2009 1:06PM
Researchers have long turned to insects for a little inspiration when creating robots, but things have entered a terrifying new dimension this week, with two separate groups each finding new ways to meld bug and machine. The further along of the pair is a group of scientists from Tokyo University's Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, who have not only used a live silkmoth to control a toy car, but severed the head of a moth and wired it into the vehicle pictured above (look closely). By directing stimuli to the moth's still-functioning antennae, the researchers were able to record the motor commands issued by the brain's nerve cells and, in turn, control the vehicle -- which, in addition to totally freaking people out, allows them to study and record data on how neurons respond to stimulus.
Slightly less far along on the road to bug armageddon is Pentagon contractor OpCoast, which is working on some full on "cyborg crickets" that behave like the real thing but have the added benefit of being able to form a mobile communications network in an emergency situation. That network, the company says, could eventually consist of hundreds or thousands of the crickets which, like real crickets, would communicate with each other through wing beats, and even be able to vary their "call tone" when they detect the presence of chemical or biological agents, or potentially even the scent of a person trapped in rubble.
Read - AFP, "Japanese scientists aim to create robot-insects"
Read - PhysOrg, "Cyborg Crickets Could Form Mobile Communications Network, Save Human Lives"
[Via reddit]
Slightly less far along on the road to bug armageddon is Pentagon contractor OpCoast, which is working on some full on "cyborg crickets" that behave like the real thing but have the added benefit of being able to form a mobile communications network in an emergency situation. That network, the company says, could eventually consist of hundreds or thousands of the crickets which, like real crickets, would communicate with each other through wing beats, and even be able to vary their "call tone" when they detect the presence of chemical or biological agents, or potentially even the scent of a person trapped in rubble.
Read - AFP, "Japanese scientists aim to create robot-insects"
Read - PhysOrg, "Cyborg Crickets Could Form Mobile Communications Network, Save Human Lives"
[Via reddit]
First to show sympathy for cyborg-moth.
Screw sympathy, I'm horrified. Not only have cyborgs come to life, they're in the form of tiny robots capable of perching on your window and spying on anything you do.
YOU BASTARDS, YOU KILLED MOTHY!!!!
::pours out some rum for undead zombie moth::
...
This article makes me very sad. :(
Wow. Impressive, but I didn't see the head.
Actually I do. My apologies. I was expecting this machine to be as small as a moth, so I was looking for that head to take more space, and wasn't aiming at details.
Mothrabot! Godzilla has certainly got his work cut out for him when Mothra jacks itself to a Gundam....
I, for one, welcome our insectocyborg overlords.
Damn skynet...
You totally had to post this before me didn't you? Completely skipped over you :(.
I for one welcome our newly appointed Robobug Overlords. All Hail!
I hate when people think "cyborg" is a synonym for robot
Good thing nobody here seems to think that - we wouldn't want to upset you.
Do not want!
Moths usually get stuck in lightbulb housings, I'm more concerned about an army of metal crickets "helping us".
We could never do this in the US. Severing a moth's head is cruelty to animals, just like swatting flies and killing virtual attack dogs. Just wait for PETA to attack the Cyborg Cricket idea.
A moth in a MechWarrior suit just doesn't sound like a good idea.
when i first glanced at this article title on google reader, i was like 90% sure that it was about robo-"METH" and i instantly thought that was the most BA drug name. ever.
I for one welcome our new robot moth/cyborg cricket overlords!
Hmm, gonna need something a lot stronger than mothballs now...
bad donkey
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