Hybrid Robot Uses Rat Brain

CowboyRobot writes "After two recent stories of artificial brains used to control rats and one about MIT doing the reverse, NYTimes now has a piece on similar work done at Georgia Tech From the article: "...the layer of rat neurons is grown over an array of electrodes that pick up the neurons' electrical activity. A computer analyzes the activity of the several thousand brain cells in real time to detect spikes produced by neurons firing near an electrode." But this time you can buy one for $3,000."

Comments

Put the rat in the iron!

[showmeshowyoukikoman]

I think rats can resist extreme heat. What about using this rat brain to control the blob of iron we are sending to the middle of the earth? That was an interesting headline to be sure. As is this one.

Who knew they were transplanting rat brains into aibo robot dogs!

Back in the day, we used to talk about robots. But for us, it was always a frightening thing. Then saturday night live did a commercial about robots stealing our medicine! Believe you me, THAT had me scared for a while! I know it was satire, but it's not hard to imagine robots living off the powerful medicines we old people use!

Revenge of the Lab Rats

[Coelacanth]

Not that this isn't cool and all, but:

I don't want to be around when this thing becomes aware enough to take retribution for countless generations of lab rat torture! Someone will stumble into the lab and find a scientist's brain wired into a speak-n-spell, with a rat-bot-shaped hole in the wall and a trail of cheese crumbs...

Obligatory Penny Arcade

[Metallic Matty]

"Here's another one: 'More brains, and bring back Hawaiian Fridays'"

http://www.penny-arcade.com/view.php3?date=2002-05 -03&res=l

Ratbrain enterprise edition!

[N2H4]

I will wait until i can purchase a ratbrain pci card before I jump on the bandwagon. Imagine the image recognition possibilites :)

Re:karma whore

[joelil]

Orkin in Very Intrested..... Just think program 3 rats to invade a house. and then just wait for the phone call to get rid of the rats get paid and have the rats move next door.....

I hope

[Anonymous Coward]

They are only using female rats for this experiment. If they use male rats the report would probably look something like

Monday morning
Robot tried too shag other robots

Monday afternoon
Robot refused to move from candy vending machine

Monday evening
Robot tried too shag other robots

Tuesday morning
Robot tried too shag other robots ....

Re:I'm going to get flamed, but

[Muhammar]

As a scientist, I regret that you are not my animal.

The implications of this technology

[InterruptDescriptorT]

At least we'll never run out of politicians now. :-)

Re:This is odd

[IamLarryboy]

Since when does having a better chance at being selected for a science experiment that will probably kill you count as an "advantage?"

Re:Artificial retina

[.com b4 .storm]

The only word I understood in that whole thing was "sandwich." :) Mmmm Subway...

In the words of Captain Picard

[Tuxinatorium]

They invade our kitchens, and we fall back. They steal entire cheeses, and we fall back. Not again. The line must be drawn here! This far, and no farther. And I will make the mice-borg pay for what they have done!