In news that will surely give your local bug exterminator a severe case of indigestion, NewScientistTech is reporting that European researchers have managed to create a robotic variant of everyone’s favorite pest, the humble cockroach.
The robotic insect resembles a tiny matchbox on wheels, but reportedly “smells and acts like a real roach” enough to be welcomed by other roaches. The goal of the Leurre project was to explore collective behavior in insects, and to see if robotic insects can simulate that behavior enough to influence the actions of real bugs.
Check out the full article by Tom Simonite here, the Leurre project site here, and also some video of the robotic roaches in action here. (Source: NewScientistTech, Leurre project site) – [Jeff James]
Very true!
I think I’d prefer a robotic shrew, kitten or puppy over a cockroach….
- Jeff
“-Mr ‘pestcontrol’, I have a problem with cockroaches!
-Not a problem Mr.! Here you go! Just place this infiltrated agent near your menacing roaches for two days and then press this botton.
-What? And they will die instantly? Just that simple?
-Well, no… but once the agent gets on friendly terms with your roaches he will convince them to go to your neighbour…”
Way out there science… with no fiction!
You have a point, Andre — maybe this is something that some of the big pest control companies — like Terminex here in the states — should start looking in to.
Why kill those roaches with pesticide when you can have a robotic, pied-piper roach lead them into a big roach motel?
- Jeff