(Page 2 of 2)
Stuck to the beetle's back is a commercial radio receiver atop a custom-made circuit board. Six electrode stimulators snake from the circuit board into the insect's optic lobes, brain, and left and right basilar flight muscles. A transmitter attached to a laptop running custom software sends messages to the receiver, delivering small electric pulses to the optic lobes to initiate flight and to the left or right flight muscle to trigger a turn. Because the receiver sends very high-level instructions to the beetle's nervous system, it can simply signal the beginning and end of a flight, rather than sending continuous messages to keep the beetle flying.
Others have created interfaces that make it possible to remotely control the movements of rats and other animals. But insects are much smaller, and thus more challenging. Maharbiz is one of the few scientists with a sufficiently deep knowledge of both biology and engineering to successfully mesh an animal's nervous system with MEMS technologies. His team previously modified beetles during the pupal stage, so that their implants are invisible in adulthood--a valuable property if they are to be used in covert missions. The researchers are now working on novel microstimulators and MEMS radio receivers that will allow for more precise neural targeting and even smaller systems.
The cyborg beetle is just one of an array of new technologies incubating in Maharbiz's lab, including microfluidic chips that can deliver controlled amounts of oxygen and other chemicals--even DNA--to individual cells. This kind of system could be used to precisely control the development of cell populations. Ultimately, Maharbiz wants to develop programmable cell-based materials, like those required for the fantastical self-healing table. For now, his team focuses on finding the best ways to manipulate devices such as the beetles. "We want to find out," says Maharbiz, "what are the limits of control?"
See the 10 Emerging Technologies of 2009.
The insect's flight path can be wirelessly controlled via a neural implant.
New approaches could more seamlessly integrate medical devices into the body.
If they can perfect controlling bugs, they will be able to help amputees and people with neurological problems, feel their limits, and better control them.
Brian Glassman
Commercialization
Innovation Management
Helping amputees,etc - sure, it's a nice cover story. but all this stuff is DARPA funded?
Do *all* univerties in america *have* to seek military research funding? Can your taxpayer funding dollars instead be directed into less vicious pursuits?
All this recent DARPA funded research: remote drones, automatic weapon-armed robots, self-driving vehicles,etc and now you guys want to construct cybernetic-hybrid animals?
Where are the wildlife agencies on all of this?
USA becomes a more frightening empire every day. It really does. :-(
...... `Of course we can splice genes. But can we NOT splice genes?' - Jean Paul Sartre
Hey I understand you mistrust,
But I worked for the Air Force and enjoyed making new weapon systems, but in all reality this technology is far way from making mind controlled rats that plant bombs.
Again, I see more application toward helping amputees than serving as a weapons system. Look up some of the research the Duke University published in this area and you will see they already applied it to humans amputees or paraplegics.
Manufacturing in the United States is in trouble. That's bad news not just for the country's economy but for the future of innovation.
Our list of the 50 most innovative companies, including the following:
On Twitter
Become a Fan on Facebook
Subscribe to the Feed
Guest (jfrank)
Ethics
I know that insects don't have a bill of rights, and haven't signed any treaties, but I really have to question the ethical basis of hijacking living creatures with electrical devices for our amusement. I know, I know, rescues, recon, blah, blah, blah.
It still seems like the first step onto a very slippery slope. How long before humans are wiring up dogs, dolphins, whales, illegal aliens...?
Reply
durs
44 Comments
Re: Ethics
No need to wire up humans. At least not American. They're simple enough that all you need is Talk Radio to control them.
Reply
briang1621
173 Comments
Re: Ethics
Frank, that is ridiculous. I know you may feel bad for the bugs, but it is obvious society limits things that have questionable ethics.
Actually, you should watch Johnny Mnemonic
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113481/
It is a take on what you projected.
Reply
mesghaei
1 Comment
Re: Ethics
But Frank, as u may know, technology and science have come to the level that can make creatures feel pleasure as well as suffering, using electrodes. So the ethical problem seems to be solved if the beetles are given the pleasure.
Reply
Agarikon
1 Comment
Re: Ethics
Are you KIDDING me jfrank,
We squash millions of bugs a day just because they get in our way.
To give you an idea of how many bugs are on this earth, the bats of the world eat more bugs in a week than you could possible count in multiple life times.
There are around 1 billion bugs per human being. If we allocated just a few percent of one persons worth of bugs, I'm sure we'd be set.
Reply
rickwestra
2 Comments
Re: Ethics
I think what's required is laws granting other creatures rights based on their sentience level. Past a certain point we would not be able to control them. It would be a great step to man's reintegration with nature, and could be a wonderful way to be able to interface with Earth's fellow passengers.
Reply