01.31.09
The Army’s Remote-Controlled Beetle
The Army’s Remote-Controlled Beetle (Technology Review, anuary 29, 2009)
The insect’s flight path can be wirelessly controlled via a neural implant.
By Emily Singer
„A giant flower beetle with implanted electrodes and a radio receiver on its back can be wirelessly controlled, according to research presented this week. Scientists at the University of California developed a tiny rig that receives control signals from a nearby computer. Electrical signals delivered via the electrodes command the insect to take off, turn left or right, or hover in midflight. The research, funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), could one day be used for surveillance purposes or for search-and-rescue missions.“ [read original article]