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Radio Controlled Cyborg Insects At MEMS 2009

Posted by timothy on from the why-does-she-have-a-hammer? dept.

Frankie Modellismo writes "During MEMS 2009, a Micro Electro Mechanical Systems conference taking place in Sorrento (near Naples in Italy), the University of California, Berkeley showed a wireless system to control a live rhinoceros beetle. The researchers controlled the movement of the beetle thanks to six electrodes installed in the insect's brain. The rhinoceros beetles can carry up to 3gr, and fly carrying the control module that weighs a little more than 1 gr." The page is in Italian, but the pictures speak for themselves.

5 of 46 comments (clear)

  1. engrish by d3l33t · · Score: 4, Informative

    Nikkei Microdevices has an interesting write up (in english) here: http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/NEWS_EN/20090128/164717/

    1. Re:engrish by auric_dude · · Score: 3, Informative

      Another summary from Danger Room http://blog.wired.com/defense/2009/01/pentagons-cybor.html

  2. Better link by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    English version

  3. Beware of article link by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    If you click on the scantly clad female on the top of the page, you come across a gallery that starts with "Hentai Manga Girls". Good thing I'm not at work!

  4. Re:Ethics by blue_goddess · · Score: 3, Informative

    Next we try to poke into a mouse, cat, dog,...

    Actually in 2002 humans were able to control rat by stimulating specific parts of its brain, similary to this bug. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guided_rat

    There is also a US patent on this: http://www.freepatentsonline.com/5791294.html

    --
    As a computer, I find your faith in technology amusing.