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)
.14
.92
.87
.18
.9
.88
.85
Degree Change in Position
2.5
18.8
23.1
8.7
14.1
23.8
11
Time Taken to Respond to
Stimulus (seconds)
.78
.09
.1
.81
.13
.13
.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
REFERENCES
Clark, 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-cyborgcockroaches-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