A scientist sends a wireless signal from the laptop to the beetle to start and then stop flight. The beetle, seen in the upper part of the frame, is tethered for practical purposes. The insect is attached to a clear plate, so that its flight pattern can be better observed. An oscilloscope shows the electrical signals as they are delivered: a short oscillating pulse triggers the animal to flap its wings, and it continues flapping until a short single pulse tells it to stop.
NASA’s mars exploration rover, Spirit, has explored the Red Planet for half a decade, overcoming technical challenges and making significant discoveries.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology