Robot controlled by moth brain
Scientists at the University of Arizona researchers built a robot that's guided by a moth's brain impules.
Link (Via ComDig)The moth is immobilize inside a plastic tube mounted atop the 6-inch-tall wheeled robot. To get the moth to imitate flight, [professor Charles M.] Higgins and his team placed the moth in its apparatus on a circular platform surrounded by a 14-inch-high revolving wall painted with vertical stripes. The moth's neuron reacts to the movement of the stripes and the process begins.
The brain of a moth is about the size of a grain of rice. Although small, “its compact size and simplicity allows for an efficient way to do brain research,” Higgins said.
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"The underlying point in the creation of the robo-moth is the notion of advancing neuroscience."
Quote of the century.
Sounds like the beginnings of a particularly bad sci-fi horror flick from the 1950's.
Fascinating and Creepy.
Where are the tiny singing girls?
I for one welcome our new moth-guided Mega-Mecha overloards.
One step closer to my boyfriend's vision of a fish in a fishtank with robot legs that the fish controls with its mind. Do you think a fish could learn to walk?
(actually I think it was supposed to be a robot fishBOWL)
I sense a good rivalry brewing:
Robo-Moth vs. Robo-Cockroach
When's the next available slot for The Octagon?
Aww man, at a quick glance I thought that said "Mother Brain."
Still awesome, but you can understand my initial disappointment/relief.
ObNitPick: 'impulses'.
This reminds me of the wonderful SF writer Cordwainer Smith. I recall that he had robots with mouse brains. The Instrumentality is coming!
The creator of the robo-moth says his ultimate goal is creating computers with human and non-human components, i.e. moth-eye cameras. More here.