The departments of Mechanical Engineering, Entomology and Entomology merged three kinds of live cockroaches to create a small computer that can be hooked up into the nervous system. You can easily control the animals by simply pressing buttons. The Journal of the Royal Society Interface published their study (citation below). Professor Hong Liang was the study leader. He said that robot-roaches could be used in dangerous situations. They could use a mini-camera mounted on a mount to enter or destroy buildings and sewers. An attached electronic backpack with a battery and board is attached to the forewings of a cockroach. Image: Interface. Prof. Liang stated that insects can accomplish things that a robot is unable to do. Their ability to sense their environment and go in small spaces, as well as sense movement from predators, makes them more resilient than systems designed by humans. “We wanted to be able to collaborate with them.” Professor Liang and his colleagues made tiny backpacks that were attached to the backs of cockroaches. They then used special adhesive paint to stick them to their bodies. Sticking things to the insects’ waxy backs with normal glue is not possible. A computer chip was attached to wires which were connected to the legs nerves of the cockroach (one leg each). The backpack is less than three grams in weight, thanks to the rechargeable lithium battery. 01 oz). Researchers were able remotely to stimulate and control the legs of the insect. The three legs of a cockroach walk in sync. Scientists were able disrupt the cockroaches’ limb movement by using electrical impulses to stimulate the middle leg of the body to move in a different way to the rest. The scientists could control the movement of the cockroaches remotely by pushing buttons on one side that caused the other to move in synch. Further research is needed, according to the researchers. The insects are capable of being controlled 70% when connected to little leashes and 60% wirelessly. Royal Society Video: Hybrid Cockroach Robots Prof. Liang stated that when cockroaches first appeared, “my hair stood straight up.” However, I kept some of them in my office for a time as pets. These cockroaches are beautiful. “They are always cleaning themselves.” Researchers conducted endurance tests on the insects by asking them to walk on a treadmill. They found that heavier backpacks made them tired faster. Professor Liang and his colleagues want to know if they are able control more than one side of each leg. They might be able to access the nerves for all six legs and get them running, walking, sitting, stopping, or starting on their own. Citation: “Locomotion control for hybrid cockroach robots,” Carlos J. Sanchez, Chen-Wei Chiu, Yan Zhou, Jorge M. Gonzalez, S. Bradleigh Vinson, and Hong Liang. Royal Society Interface. Published March 4, 2015. DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2014.1363. Guardian Tech Video – Cockroach robots
