"Xiaoqiang" transformed into a "semi -mechanical cockroach", Japanese researchers used cockroaches to search for earthquake survivors

Jimu Journalist Sun Yan

In the near future, if someone was buried under the rubble of the ruins due to the earthquake, the first may find them a group of cockroaches carrying "schoolbags".

Related report screenshots

According to Reuters reported on September 22, recently, Japanese researchers developed a "flexible solar cell film", which was 4 microns thick, about 25 points of human hair width, and could be affixed to the abdomen of cockroaches. It is understood that this battery film does not affect the free movement of cockroaches; at the same time, solar cells can generate sufficient energy to process steering signals and pass to sensitive organs at the tail of the cockroaches.

In addition to the solar cell membrane to the abdomen of cockroaches, the researchers also gave them electronic devices to "control the movement of cockroaches" by remote control.

Semi -mechanical cockroach information map

It is reported that the work of Japanese researchers is based on the "insect control" experiments before Nanyang University of Science and Technology in Singapore. For a long time, scientists are trying to study the "semi -mechanical insects" wearing "mechanical armor", which can better search and rescue work than robots.

In an interview, Japanese researcher Fukuda Kento (transliteration) told reporters that "the battery energy inside the small robot will be exhausted in a short period of time, so the time of the robot for search will be shortened; One of the advantages of mechanical cockroaches) is that cockroaches move by themselves, so there is far less electricity than robots. "

It is reported that the reason why Fukuda Jianjiro and his team chose Madagascar to make cockroaches as experiments because these cockroaches were large and could carry equipment without the wings of "hindrance". They can still pass small obstacles after sticking to the film and carrying the "schoolbag", and they can adjust it by themselves even if they are turned over.

But this study still has a long way to go. In a recent experiment, the researchers, Katsui Hiroshi (transliteration), used a special computer to connect to remotely control the cockroach through Bluetooth to let him turn left, but when he gave the correct signal, the cockroaches turned around.

(Picture source: Reuters)

- END -