Animal Machine Interface


Backpack-Wearing Cockroaches to Detect Radiation -- Austin Wright  -- National Defense  -- March 1, 2010
Insect Cyborgs

Researchers at Texas A&M University’s Nuclear Security Science and Policy Institute have attached radiation sensors to the backs of cockroaches. They hope public-safety officials will one day send the souped-up insects into situations that are too risky for humans.


Scientists say Dolphins should be Treated as Non-Numan Persons -- Lin Edwards  -- PhysOrg.com  -- January 6, 2010
Cetaceans

Scientists studying dolphin behavior have suggested they could be the most intelligent creatures on Earth after humans, and should therefore be treated as "non-human persons" and granted rights as individuals.


'Star Wars' Scientists Create Laser Gun to Kill Mosquitoes -- Anouk Lorie  -- CNN  -- March 19, 2009
Animal Machine Interface

Astrophysicists in the U.S. are repurposing technology used to detect and destroy ballistic missiles to combat mosquitoes. The technology works by detecting detects the audio frequency created by the beating of mosquito wings and then zapping it with a laser beam.


The Army's Remote-Controlled Beetle -- Emily Singer  -- Technology Review  -- January 29, 2009
Insect Cyborgs

A giant flower beetle with implanted electrodes and a radio receiver on its back can be wirelessly controlled, according to research by scientists at the University of California.


Grammar Revealed in a Whale’s Love Song -- Bjorn Carey  -- MSNBC  -- March 22, 2006
Animal Machine Interface

To the casual human listener, the love song of a humpback whale sounds magnificently free-flowing and improvised. But fresh mathematical analysis of the song shows there are complex grammatical rules. Using syntax, the whales combine sounds into phrases, which they further weave into hours-long melodies packed with information.


The Landmine-Sniffing Rats of Mozambique -- Megan Lindow  -- Time  -- June 2, 2008
Animal Machine Interface

APOPO, a Belgian humanitarian assistance group, is training rats to detect landmines in Mozambique and Angola. The rats are light enough not to trigger the landmines and are able to sniff out landmines with a high degree of efficiency and accuracy.


U.S. scientists say trained bees can sniff bombs -- Staff  -- Reuters  -- November 27, 2006
Surveillance Technology

Scientists at a U.S. weapons laboratory say they have trained bees to sniff out explosives in a project they say could have far-reaching applications for U.S. homeland security and the Iraq war.


Military seeks to develop 'insect cyborgs' -- Shaun Waterman  -- United Press International  -- March 13, 2006
Insect Cyborgs

The U.S. military, facing problems in its efforts to train insects or build robots that can mimic their flying abilities, now wants to develop "insect cyborgs" that can go where troops cannot. The Pentagon is seeking applications from researchers to help them develop technology that can be implanted into living insects to control their movement and transmit video or other sensory data back to their handlers.


Pentagon plans cyber-insect army -- Gary Kitchener  -- BBC News  -- March 15, 2006
Insect Cyborgs

DARPA scientists want to create an army of cyber-insects that can be remotely controlled to check out explosives and send transmissions. The idea is to insert micro-systems at the pupa stage, when the insects can integrate them into their body, so they can be remotely controlled later.


Recruiting Robolobsters and Mind-Controlled Sharks -- Josh Silverstein  -- ABC News  -- March 23, 2006
Animal Machine Interface

An overview of some of the U.S. Military's efforts to learn from the natural world by developing new techniques based on animal behavior, or exploit it directly by enlisting animals directly in warfighting efforts.

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