Led by Dr. Edgar Lobaton, researchers have outfitted Madagascar hissing cockroaches with a chip, microcontroller, wireless receiver, and transmitter. With these tools Lobaton’ team imagines they can create a swarm of remote control roaches that can map areas where precise “biobug” location is difficult to obtain. This seems to be particularly useful in “a collapsed building where you can’t use GPS technology,” says Lobaton
Once a swarm of “biobots” enter a hazardous structure, operators would send a signal to the roaches’ backpacks ordering them to move in one direction until they find a wall. By repeating this “wall follow” command, first responders could have a detailed map of any collapsed structure or hazard.
In addition to being able to map a structure, the “biobot” software will be able to report to public safety officials about radioactive or chemical threats.
Currently, NC State researchers have only tested their system in a computer simulation. However, in the near future testing of actual cockroach “biobots” will be performed in in a real life demonstration.
Image Courtesy of NC State