DARPA developing cyborg insects for military purposes

Posted Apr 1, 2008 at 8:21AM EST by QJ Staff

Listed in: Tags: gaming accessories, genetic engineering, surveillance

Fictional depiction of a cyborg insect - Image 1

While this may seem like a plot out of a bad Sci-Fi novel, the U.S. military is currently implementing plans on developing cyborg insects as its next line of high-tech defense.

Dubbed as the Hybrid Insect MEMS (HI-MEMS) project, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) aims to transform "insects into unmanned air-vehicles."

The project involves implanting micro-mechanical systems (MEMS), coupled with human controlled machine-insect interfaces, into an insect during the early stages of metamorphosis. These cyborg insects can be used for all kinds of possible activities ranging from simple surveillance to even arming them with "bio weapons" for military purposes.

DARPA is currently working on research which can integrate MEMS components into insects as they develop, creating living robots that can be remotely controlled after it emerges from its cocoon. The project is progressing at a rapid rate, with scientists focusing which MEMS systems can best be integrated into insects and when the best time for embedding these systems are.

There are still several issues involved with the implementation of such technology. The idea of a fly buzzing around with a closed-circuit television spying on you can be a very disturbing one. Also, there are possibilities of using such cyborg insects as lethal carriers of biological weapons.

However, Robert Michelson, a principal research engineer, mentions that such ethical or legal dilemmas resulting from the future use of weaponized cyborg insects are rather unfounded. He explains this by saying: "No, not unless they could breed new cyborg insects, which is not possible. Genetic engineering will be the ethical and legal battleground, not cybernetics."

Already, there have been a wealth of projects related to this study. In a video (embedded below) taken from NewScientist, you can take a look at a study that was conducted by using electronic signals to control the flight of insects. Whatever the case may be, the future of mechanized insects seem to be now.

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DARPA developing cyborg insects for military purposes

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