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Robo-Moth Hooks Up Insect's Brain to a Robot
Posted by Charlie White at 3:50 AM on November 8, 2007
Reminding us of a tiny paper airplane with flies superglued to its wings, here's another melding of insect and machine, the Robo-Moth. This six-inch robot uses a moth's brain and eyes to get around, and wherever the moth's eyes look, that's where the robot goes. Sure, moths are plenty stupid, with brains scarcely larger than a couple of commas like this, but they can still detect motion better than anything scientists can build.
Researchers hope to use the technology to help paralysis victims to regain the ability to move. Team this buggy robot up with that thought-controlled wheelchair, and now we're getting somewhere. But we're thinking some precautions might need to be taken if they're using moths—don't turn on any bright lights, or the robot will go nuts. [LA Times]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
fogponics
Posted 3:13 PM 7/11/07
hook that moth up to a hovercraft
fogponics
Serolf Divad
Posted 2:34 PM 7/11/07
Cool, now let's build a Robocop.
Serolf Divad
leMel
Posted 2:31 PM 7/11/07
Does it have the strength of ten gorillas?
leMel
tamoko
Posted 2:27 PM 7/11/07
The Mothman is going to be mighty pissed when he hears about this. Does DARPA do research into giant bug zappers?
tamoko
omg-ponies
Posted 2:21 PM 7/11/07
@lunarstreaker: Easy. Mecha-godzilla. Rent it.
omg-ponies
dragonphyre
Posted 2:16 PM 7/11/07
I wondered what the hell happened when that camera's flash went off.
Chaos, I hope.
dragonphyre
lunarstreaker
Posted 2:07 PM 7/11/07
Right now, 4.7 million Japanese are running those beads through thier fingers so fast smoke pour out, and thinking, "Oh crap, Mothra got an upgrade: what are we gonna do for Godzilla?"
lunarstreaker
Chandru
Posted 2:05 PM 7/11/07
wats the project name? Age of mothology?
Chandru
MisterSleep
Posted 1:43 PM 7/11/07
Thank God they haven't hooked up a speaker so we can hear a tiny little "kiiillll meeee....."
MisterSleep
Gormania
Posted 1:40 PM 7/11/07
How the fuck does that massive heap of machinery fly?
Sorry for the outburst!
Gormania
bpatten
Posted 1:37 PM 7/11/07
Obligatory:
I, for one, welcome our new Moth-Robot Overlords.
bpatten
AhnyerKeester
Posted 12:34 PM 7/11/07
No wait, a moth has a brain?
AhnyerKeester
jetexas
Posted 12:30 PM 7/11/07
Think what a pain it would be to change out the moth four times a day.
jetexas
it-hobbit
Posted 12:28 PM 7/11/07
So, we may get the "Moth-Bot" chronicles soon?
Also think the potential for rockets! Night time launches would GUARANTEE moon landings ;)
it-hobbit
Y2KGTP
Posted 12:15 PM 7/11/07
Great idea....I can imagine wheelchair setups diverting into nighttime oncoming traffic already
Y2KGTP
omg-ponies
Posted 12:05 PM 7/11/07
WRONG WRONG WRONG!
We do not hook brains up to robotic bodies. No good ever comes of it.
omg-ponies
nospamsam
Posted 11:31 PM 7/11/07
Great, now I have to worry about cleaning those contraptions out of the lamp shades instead of just sucking up them up with a vacuum cleaner.
nospamsam
aussie
Posted 8:48 AM 8/11/07
Cool! How soon before we see the real RoboCop!!!!
aussie