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DARPA Creates Remote Controlled Insects

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the bug-with-a-bug dept.

EmagGeek writes "Attempts by the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to create cybernetic insects (hybrids of biological and electronic 'bugs') have yielded ultra-low power radios to control the bugs' flight and a method of powering those circuits by harvesting energy, according to research that will be reported this week at the IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference. 'Electrodes and a control chip are inserted into a moth during its pupal stage. When the moth emerges the electrodes stimulate its muscles to control its flight. I expect a run on bug zappers any day."

4 of 101 comments (clear)

  1. I, for one, welcome our new Insect Overlords by relikx · · Score: 5, Funny

    If you sign up now you won't get hive duty and can assist as a pollinator.

  2. It hasn't happened!! by Marc_Hawke · · Score: 5, Insightful

    What a waste of time. They are presenting papers about what their research goals are. They haven't actually done it yet.

    There are other people with research goals to find a cure for cancer....but that's not news.

    --
    --Welcome to the Realm of the Hawke--
  3. At mere $3,000,000 per bug... by Phizzle · · Score: 5, Funny

    At mere $3,000,000 per bug our government will create swarms of moths to charge into the windshields of Taliban truckers and irk the crap out of them.

    --
    I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own.
  4. Cellphones mutating? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Its more likely than you think. ;)