CYBORG COCKROACHES

BY: M I C H A E L G O R I N I

WHAT IS A CYBORG COCKROACH?

• A cockroach that could interact independently through the implanted biomechanical technology

• Right now science has only provided us with the technology to make biological robot cockroaches

• The main difference is that biological robots are controlled solely by humans or computers and there is no independent interaction taking place

BIOLOGICAL ROBOT COCKROACH

• Cockroaches have two cerci in the back and two antennae in the front that work as their sensors and send information directly to the cockroaches legs, bypassing the brain, and making the cockroach move

• All scientists have to do is implant biomechanical electrode sensors into the cockroach and send out electric impulses to steer the cockroach where they want her to go

• SCIENTISTS SUCCESSFULLY SHOWED COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE COCKROACHES’ MOTOR SYSTEM WITH THIS COURSE; THEY ALSO DETERMINED VARIOUS RELATIONS TO BETWEEN STIMULUS AND REACTION TIMING

TABLE 1 PORTRAYS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE DURATION OF THE STIMULUS, THE TIME IT TOOK FOR THE BIOLOGICAL ROBOT COCKROACH TO CHANGE ITS DEGREE OF DIRECTION, AND THE DEGREE CHANGE IT UNDERWENT TO STAY ON THE PATH.

Duration of the Stimulus (seconds)

Degree Change in Position Time Taken to Respond to Stimulus (seconds)

.14 2.5 .78

.92 18.8 .09

.87 23.1 .1

.18 8.7 .81

.9 14.1 .13

.88 23.8 .13

.85 11 .16

SOCIAL BENEFITS

• Biological robot cockroaches have the potential to save lives because of the unique combination between one of the most resilient insects on the planet coupled with technological sensor devices to find people

• Scientists believe in the near future biological robot cockroaches or cyborg cockroaches will be able to search for trapped survivors in areas too dangerous or too small for search and rescue teams

REFERENCESClark, Debbie, and Shanklin, Donna. "Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches." Madagascar Hissing

Cockroaches. University of Kentucky, Department of Entomology, n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2012. http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef014.asp

 

Fiegl, Amanda. "Could Cyborg Cockroaches Save Your Life?" National Geographic. National Geographic Society, 07 Sept. 2012. Web. 12 Nov. 2012. <http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/09/120907-cyborg-cockroaches-video-science-remote-control-robots-bugs/>.

 

Kunkel, Joseph. "The Cockroach FAQ" Biological Research and Development. University of Massachusetts Amherst, Biology Department, n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2012. <http://www.bio.umass.edu/biology/kunkel/cockroach_faq.html>.

 

Latif, Tahmid, and Bozkurt, Alper. Line Following Terrestrial Insect Biobots. Ncsu.edu, n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2012. <http://ibionics.ece.ncsu.edu/assets/EMBC_12.pdf>.

 

Mullen, Gary; Lance Durden, Cameron Connor, Daniel Perera, Lynsey Little, Michael Groves and Rebecca Erskine (2002). Medical and Veterinary Entomology. Amsterdam: Academic Press