Radio-controlled Rhino beetles are cool
US University Shows Radio-controlled Live Beetle
The University of California, Berkeley succeeded in the experiment of controlling a live rhinoceros beetle by radio and disclosed the video of the experiment at the MEMS 2009 academic conference taking place in Sorrento, Italy.
The Army's Remote-Controlled Beetle
The insect's flight path can be wirelessly controlled via a neural implant.
Cyborg beetle: Shown here is a giant flower beetle carrying a microprocessor, radio receiver, and microbattery and implanted with several electrodes. To control the insect’s flight, scientists wirelessly deliver signals to the payload, which sends electrical signals through the electrode to the brain and flight muscles. Credit: Michel Maharbiz
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UC Berkeley Succeeds in Radio Controlling Live Beetle for Military Purposes? Cyborgs?
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) of the US funds the research making the experiment something intended for military purposes.
The university says that the technology can be utilized for peaceful purposes as well. Haven’t we heard this kind of argument before?
Radio-controlled beetles can be useful in places that are too narrow or dangerous for a human to enter. That makes sense. But what’s a beetle going to do there? Pirates used to send their parrots in to undesirable places, too.