Remotely controlled cockroaches
Researchers from North Carolina State University have developed software that allows them to map unknown environments – such as collapsed buildings – based on the movement of a swarm of insect cyborgs, or “biobots.”
“We focused on how to map areas where you have little or no precise information on where each biobot is, such as a collapsed building where you can’t use GPS technology,” says Dr. Edgar Lobaton, an assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at NC State and senior author of a paper on the research.
“One characteristic of biobots is that their movement can be somewhat random,” Lobaton says. “We’re exploiting that random movement to work in our favor.”
Here’s how the process would work in the field. A swarm of biobots, such as remotely controlled cockroaches, would be equipped with electronic sensors and released into a collapsed building or other hard-to-reach area. The biobots would initially be allowed to move about randomly. Because the biobots couldn’t be tracked by GPS, their precise locations would be unknown. However, the sensors would signal researchers via radio waves whenever biobots got close to each other.
Once the swarm has had a chance to spread out, the researchers would send a signal commanding the biobots to keep moving until they find a wall or other unbroken surface – and then continue moving along the wall. This is called “wall following.”
The researchers repeat this cycle of random movement and “wall following” several times, continually collecting data from the sensors whenever the biobots are near each other. The new software then uses an algorithm to translate the biobot sensor data into a rough map of the unknown environment.
“This would give first responders a good idea of the layout in a previously unmapped area,” Lobaton says.
The software would also allow public safety officials to determine the location of radioactive or chemical threats, if the biobots have been equipped with the relevant sensors.
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Cyborg Swarm
- You Would Need An Aspirin For This Helldivers 2 Theory: Super Earth Is The Terminid Home Planet, The Federation Created Automatons
Helldivers 2 ditches the singleplayer approach of its predecessor to focus on multiplayer elements, but that doesn’t mean it’s devoid of story beats. In fact, since the co-op shooter is set in the ...
- Swarm of nanorobots can remove tiny plastic fragments from water
Tiny magnetic robots can help remove some of the smallest plastic particles from polluted water.
- Butcher’s Block, Slab 9: Carving Through “Hack/Slash”
From sentient concepts to superheroes, along with a look into the series use of public domain, welcome back to the Butcher's Block as we carve away at Hack/Slash!
- Cyborg cockroach swarms promise to help in rescue missions
According to the researchers, the so-called cyborg insects used in conjunction with the control algorithm might enable multi-robot swarms to conduct search and rescue missions.
- Controllable Cyborg Cockroaches Capable of Traversing Complex Terrains, Created by Scientists
A Singaporean study has created cyborg cockroaches to remedy the traversal problems of conventional autonomous robots.
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Cyborg Swarm
[google_news title=”” keyword=”Cyborg Swarm” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Remotely controlled cockroaches
- Cockroaches Found at British Columbia Island Hospital but 'These Bugs Do Not Bite,' Health Authority Says
“These bugs do not bite and do not transmit disease,” a representative for Island Health, the publicly funded entity that oversees the hospital, told PEOPLE in a statement, which said that the bugs ...
- Canadian Health Authority Admits that B.C. Island Hospital Has a Cockroach Problem but 'These Bugs Do Not Bite'
“These bugs do not bite and do not transmit disease,” a representative for Island Health, the publicly funded entity that oversees the hospital, told PEOPLE in a statement, which said that the bugs ...
- Chilling new AI robot designed to learn human behaviour in just 24 HOURS amid fears of cyborg’s could ‘take over’
A CHILLING new AI robot designed to mimic human behaviour has learnt difficult tasks in just 24 hours. The freaky futuristic cyborg, named Phoenix, was unveiled this week and is fast on its way to ...
- Here’s how cockroach-hybrid robots & other badass innovations help keep you & S’pore safe
With safety, it’s often a cat-and-mouse game. Scams and deepfakes are continually evolving. And even Singapore is not immune to the effects of global geopolitical tensions and instability. As threats ...
- Cyborg cockroach swarms promise to help in rescue missions
According to the researchers, the so-called cyborg insects used in conjunction with the control algorithm might enable multi-robot swarms to conduct search and rescue missions.
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Remotely controlled cockroaches
[google_news title=”” keyword=”remotely controlled cockroaches” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]