Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Technology => Topic started by: CliffordK on 12/03/2013 05:29:07

Title: Are "Borg" bugs the next thing?
Post by: CliffordK on 12/03/2013 05:29:07

"Borg" Bugs...  Star Trek here we come.

I was listening to the radio this evening, and they were talking about cyborg bugs.

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.technologyreview.com%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Flegacy%2Fcyborg_x220.jpg&hash=9793dccac64c0ad274e9b1278a6e5f74)

http://www.technologyreview.com/news/411814/the-armys-remote-controlled-beetle/
http://scienceblogs.com/neurophilosophy/2009/09/23/flight-of-the-remote-controlled-cyborg-beetle/

It sounds like part of the goal is to utilize the insects natural instincts with minimal signaling, but the control may be a little haphazard too.

But, the next time you see a huge insect clearly out of place, look for a microchip on its head.

Title: Re: Are "Borg" bugs the next thing?
Post by: chris on 14/03/2013 04:04:06

I think we covered this, or something similar, on an episode of the show a few years ago. One application was to control moths with these systems and the idea was to equip them with cameras and fly them into military / enemy facilities so they could spy on the activity there...