Harvard's Robotic Bees Generate High-Tech Buzz

coondoggie writes "Harvard researchers recently got a $10 million grant to create a colony of flying robotic bees, or RoboBees, to (among other things) spur innovation in ultra-low-power computing and electronic 'smart' sensors; and refine coordination algorithms to manage multiple, independent machines. The 5-year, National Science Foundation-funded RoboBee project could lead to a better understanding of how to mimic artificially the unique collective behavior and intelligence of a bee colony; foster novel methods for designing and building an electronic surrogate nervous system able to sense and adapt to changing environments; and advance work on the construction of small-scale flying mechanical devices, according to the Harvard RoboBee Web site."

Comments

Democratizing power of tech

[religious freak]

I've always thought it was interesting that we take the democratizing power of tech for granted. Certainly, those in Iran, China, or other places around the world may have access which, in pre-Internet days, would've been impossible. But I've always thought the democratizing power of tech would go into reverse with stuff like this article discusses. Imagine a true surveillance society, powered by those with the funds to create this kind of tech (i.e. governments). That could be the direction at least a few governments are headed in.

I'm not saying that this will happen, but I just think most folks have not considered the very long term implications of technology. Over the long-term technology may not be democratizing at all.