The Bionic Roach: How Science Is Turning These Pests Into Search and Rescue Workers
I have been lucky in life: I've never come face-to-face with a cockroach. I have come face-to-face with water bugs while at the ocean and while they look very similar (except for their size), they aren't part of the roach family. But just because I haven't seen one doesn't mean they're not living in my home. They're extremely resourceful creatures. They can live up to a month without food, two weeks without water, and up to a week without their head. They can regulate water loss in their bodies and will eat almost anything including each other. A female cockroach can lay 30 eggs per month on average. With that kind of breeding output, it's no wonder they've been around since dinosaurs roamed the earth.
Because of all these evolutionary advantages, scientists now believe the cockroach would make a great candidate for the world's first bionic insect.
Alexis Gajewski, senior editor at Plant Services recently reported that scientists from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore are developing cyborg cockroaches in the hopes that they could be used to save lives in search and rescue missions. The team partnered with the Home Team Science and Technology Agency (HTX), a statutory board under the Ministry of Home Affairs of Singapore that helps to develop science and technology capabilities for Home Team operations.
Each cockroach is equipped with a tiny “backpack” that houses a chip with a variety of onboard devices, including an IR camera, a microphone, environmental sensors, and navigation sensors. To control the cockroach, the scientist sends electrical signals to its nerve cells, which guide and direct the insect. Unlike robots, cyborg cockroaches are able to move on their own, allowing power to be saved for other modules.
Learn more about these bionic cockroaches by reading the full blog post which includes some great videos of these cockroaches in action!
» Read the full blog post and see the cyborg cockroaches in action!
Fun Innovations Friday
Created by the editors of New Equipment Digest and Plant Services, Fun Innovations Friday is a feel-good blog that showcases how advances in science, math, engineering, and technology are making our world more whimsical. Here's another post that's guaranteed to brighten your day.
