"Hey guys, get a bloodhound insect." So the head of the explosive ordnance disposal team can say in the future, thanks to the development of engineers that can turn insects into cyborgs, which can be sent anywhere to sniff out explosives. This is not an easy task - for this, researchers from the University of Washington in St. Louis will have to equip insects with several high-tech devices. It is good that they have a powerful patron - the US Navy. Research leader Baranidharan Raman received a three-year grant of $ 750,000 from the Office of Naval Research to turn his ideas into reality.
Raman has been studying how insects analyze odors for many years. He and his team found that locusts can identify the specific odors they have been trained to detect, even when there are extraneous odors. Raman believes that cyborg insects will be more efficient than robots because they use a ton of natural sensors.
“Why reinvent the wheel? Why not take advantage of biological solutions? - he asked. - This is the point. Even the most advanced miniature chemical devices use only a few sensors. On the other hand, if you look at the antenna of insects, there are several hundred thousand sensors of various types."
In order to turn a common locust into an explosive hunting machine, engineers plan to implant electrodes in their brains to connect to their antennae in the form of antennae and decode electrical signals. Since the operators must receive the information gathered by the insects, the researchers are also developing a tiny backpack that can transmit data. A red LED on the receiver will illuminate when explosives are present, while a green light indicates no threat.
Finally, the engineers plan to tattoo the wings of insects with biocompatible silk that can convert light into heat. The laser, which is likely to be in the backpack, will allow the operator to monitor the actions of the cyborg. Focusing the laser on the left wing will move the insect to the left and vice versa. The insect will function in the same way as a remotely controlled drone. If everything goes according to plan, the scientists hope to test the first prototype within a year and implement the entire project within two years.