One cyborg cockroach perhaps it is not the image a marketing team would choose to show our technological future. But that’s what the researchers ofRiken Institute in Japan they created with Robobugand animal-robot hybrid with solar charging e remote control. That tomorrow will help us to monitor the environment and collect data in hazardous areas. Although with the risk of terrifying anyone who sees it for the first time.
Robobug, a remotely controlled cyborg cockroach
Engineers from the Riken Institute have announced this new technology, with a solar battery and remote control. But above all yes adapted to the body of cockroaches so as not to hinder the movements. Because scientists tested these devices by connecting them directly to live cockroaches to see if they could really control them.
Their solution is very reminiscent of one sort of hyper-technological ‘backpack’ to be placed on the back of cockroaches, where it remains attached for a long period of time. On the device there are ultra-thin solar cells so as not to hinder the movements of insects. We are talking about organic devices only 0.004mm thick but with the power of 17.2 mW. Fifty times the energy used in all previous experiments of this type.
Remote control for insects
The team of scientists chose for the experiment Madagascar cockroaches, six centimeters long and unable to fly. They then installed the device, connecting cables to the insect’s six legs to electrically stimulate them. The experiment then provided for the possibility of making the insects move to the right or left, for one period of about 30 minutes.
Kenjiro Fukudahead of the research team, explains that the best solution appears to be a rigid chest system and a “ultra-soft” system. This is because of how the bodies of cockroaches are contracted in motion. So “our strategy can also be adapted to other insects such as beetles, or perhaps even flying insects in the future such as cicadas “.
The ability to recharge the battery with sunlight is particularly important for extend the duration of the control on insectsthe. Because if the battery ran out, the researchers would find themselves with a group of cyborg cockroaches without being able to control them anymore. And it’s the kind of situation that’s only good for a horror movie plot.
At the moment it is difficult to understand the actual use of these cyborg insects in daily life, but the fact that it is “Cyborg scaring” is scientific news and not a description of a nightmare suggests that a once science fiction industry is becoming real.
We find it really exciting. Although we don’t know if we would keep the same enthusiasm in a room full of these new cyborgs. What do you think about it? Let us know in the comments.