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Robots to Rid Us of Cockroaches?
unassimilatible writes "It behaves like a cockroach. It smells like a cockroach. It is accepted by other cockroaches. But it is not a cockroach. It is a robot and scientists say its invention is a breakthrough in mankind's struggle to control the animal kingdom. The Sunday Times is reporting on a cool form of robotics, impersonating (inanimalnating?) animals. Leurre is a project on building and controlling mixed societies composed of animals and artificial agents. Within a decade, its inventors believe, it will be leading the unwanted pests out of dark kitchen corners, to where they can be eliminated. Additionally, they say they will soon be using robots to stop sheep jumping off cliffs and to encourage chickens to take exercise. Schematics, tools, and pictures here. Apparently, cockroaches do not wear tinfoil hats, as they are not smart enough to be suspicious of box-shaped circuit boards with an antennae sticking out."
FTA: It is a robot and scientists say its invention is a breakthrough in mankind's struggle to control the animal kingdom.
I would like to see a little drosophila robot lead all of the confounded fruit flies out of my kitchen and into the wild! (although I'm not sure where they'll put the batteries for that one)
If I could control the little robot, I might be tempted to send them right down the drain into my neighbour's place!
I see this as an excellent way to control animals, keep them off of roads and away from harm, but if I have to buy a robot dog to control my real dog, I might just buy a robot dog and leave it at that!
The dangers of knowledge trigger emotional distress in human beings.
...who will rid us of the robots?
New market opportunity:
But can it survive a nuclear attack?
no.
score one for mother nature.
-Teiresias
What happens when the robot that vaccums your floor sucks up your cockroach robot? Do they fight to the death?
cleverly disguised as a responsible adult ||
But then I saw the boxy green things, and it occured to me, if the roaches are fscking stupid enough to accept it as one of their own, they deserve to be exterminated by it.
If you don't know what AltaVista is (was), get off my lawn.
they say they will soon be using robots to stop sheep jumping off cliffs
Or a... fence.
Hokey statistics and ancient misconceptions are no match for a good thought in your head, kid!
This roach bot should be called the CyberDyne Systems T-1. The First Terminator, a robot designed to infiltrate a population and eliminate it.
Human models should be available in a few decades.
You see? You see? Your stupid minds! Stupid! Stupid!
...when these robots are so effective, the male roaches will mount them, and get their little roach members snipped off.
And then, soon, the only cockroaches who survive will be those who can tell the difference between a robot and a real roach.
In other words, the smart ones.
Great idea, guys.
Who really wants a food chain in their house? The goal here isn't to make cockroaches extinct (not going to happen), but to make homes roach-free.
Additionally, they say they will soon be using robots to stop sheep jumping off cliffs [...] I thought sheep were supposed to push back when they are near the edge of a cliff.... oh wait... nevermind
"And then the Cyborgs came."
I just realized how many movies and books could be greatly improved by adding that line to the end narration.
Honor Among Slackers. A veri