Why Scientists Just Turned These Cockroaches Into Cyborgs – SlashGear

In the paper, the scientists provide close to 15 years’ worth of examples of what they call “insects as hybrid robot platforms,” including one 2009 study describing the wireless control of a beetle while in flight. But, it turns out, getting an insect to go where you want it to — even with implanted electrodes — isn’t like operating even the most bizarre of video game controllers.

Building on previous studies, scientists found that cockroaches naturally tend to move in some predictable ways. They move around a lot when it’s warm, but pretty much stop when it drops below 70°F. When there’s bright light they seek out dark places, and once they’re in the dark they stay put. They prefer to follow along the edges of walls and objects, and when they’re in the open, they more or less move at random.

Using a camera, motion sensors, and machine learning, the researchers developed a program that could use only the motion data from a cyborg cockroach to determine whether or not it was moving. If it determined the cockroach was at rest, it would apply “automatic stimulation” that got the cockroach moving again. Apparently, the program worked remarkably well, with the scientists reporting, “This system increased the search rate and traveled distance by 68% and 70%, respectively, while the stop time was reduced by 78%.” There’s no statement available describing the cockroaches’ opinion on the matter, but hopefully they approve because human cyborgs are arguably already here.