The Japanese showed light-controlled “cybertococci”
Scientists from Osaka University have equipped cockroaches with tiny helmets with UV lights and can now control them like radio-controlled cars. The thing is, these insects don't like ultraviolet light. If you shine a light into the cockroaches' left eye, they'll turn right, and vice versa.
No wires in the brain, no surgery. Just a helmet, a backpack with sensors, and a battery. Keisuke Morishima, the head of cockroaches in this project, proudly declares: instead of breaking the insects' brains with electricity, we simply use their natural instincts. It turns out to be safer and more reliable than old methods.
They tested the system thoroughly - they chased cockroaches through mazes 150 times. The result is impressive: 94% of cyborgs found a way out, while only 24% of ordinary cockroaches managed it. Instinct is instinct, you can't fool it.
Why do we need such cockroaches at all? For rescue operations after earthquakes - they will crawl where a regular robot cannot squeeze through. To study dangerous places without risk to people.
