Beetle Borgs - Neatorama

Engineers at the University of California at Berkeley have developed remote-control beetles that can be used as spies! They aren't just robots, either. These are cyborgs, real beetles that have implanted electrodes that control their flight muscles.

With the mind of a machine and the nimble body of an insect, this bug-bot may be the perfect scout: inexpensive, expendable, and capable of surreptitious reconnaissance. The Berkeley researchers, led by Michael Maharbiz, note that beetles are strong enough to carry useful payloads, such as a miniature camera.

Link -via Digg

(image credit: Hirotaka Sato and Michel M. Maharbiz, U. C. Berkeley)

Comments (10)

that is awesome. I just threw a pesky beetle outside.

Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)

I've heard of these little spies before. They have no rights when they retire, and when they die, their families are told lies, they are dispensable heroes.

Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)

How would you feel if someone else controlled your body?

Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)

Heh, reminds me of the cockroach camera spy in The Fifth Element.

Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)

More than often I've wondered if houseflies -especially when they are big- and other flying insects that surround us, could be used by aliens to spie on us- You don't need UFO's and fancy potentially visible flying stuff- Just tap in to the already abundant flying insaectworld and you get to know every nook and cranny of our worldly existance...

So now humans are starting to dso the same with the ultimate critter-cam. Hm, high time to buy myself the best and ultimate fly-swatter there is, or to invent one myself...

Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)

GQ, totally what I was thinking.

Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)

i've been giggling about the title ever since i saw it in the magazine.

beetle borgs was the best power rangers ripoff ever.

Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)

This is really cool, but it also seems kinda wrong...

Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)

I, for one, welcome our new Beetle overlords.

Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)

Hah! I have countered this threat with a simple solution. A nice can of Raid!

Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)

Login to comment.

Click here to access all of this post's 10 comments

This website uses cookies.

This website uses cookies to improve user experience. By using this website you consent to all cookies in accordance with our Privacy Policy.