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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.

10 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!

    1. Re:Beware of article link by $RANDOMLUSER · · Score: 5, Funny

      Too bad they're not radio controlled. Then you'd have something useful.

      --
      No folly is more costly than the folly of intolerant idealism. - Winston Churchill
    2. Re:Beware of article link by Barny · · Score: 2, Funny

      Now I gotta go back and look at that damn gallery, thanks a lot.

      And yes, I AM at work :P

      --
      ...
      /me sighs
  4. Just Pictures by e2d2 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Yes the pictures do speak for themselves. But where are the details? I can tie an SBC to the back of my dog's head and then wrap some wire to it's nose also. That doesn't make it a remote controlled dog.

    I want proof and a blueprint on how to do this to a beautiful woman, just saying.

  5. 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.
  6. Re:I for one... by BluBrick · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Hang about - wouldn't that be "our rhinoceros beetle's wireless overlords"?

    --
    Ahh - My eye!
    The doctor said I'm not supposed to get Slashdot in it!
  7. Re:Call me stupid by maxume · · Score: 2, Interesting

    If you don't understand the principles of construction, better tools aren't automatically going to lead to better construction (perhaps you mean that having better tools is a worthwhile motivation for better understanding of the principles, but then, maybe the problem is that it is 'hard').

    --
    Nerd rage is the funniest rage.