Robo-roach research gets huge cash boost

Yo Mamma

The Japanese government is funding research into remote controlled cockroaches.

The bugs are fitted with electronic backpacks which are wired into their brains. When properly stimulated the bugs can turn left or right and move forward or back as required. Japan is ploughing £3.4 million into the Tokyo University project.

Scientists hope to develop camera-carrying robo-roaches which can be used in search and rescue operations like to the one under way following the World Trade Centre collapse in New York.

Each microprocessor backpack is linked to pulse-emitting electrodes implanted in an insect's head.

Signals are sent to the backpack which then stimulates the electrodes making the roach move.

The system isn't yet perfect so implanted insects can still move under their own will and even get desensitised to the impulses.

Assistant professor Isao Shimoyama said: "Insects can do many things that people can't. The potential applications of this work for mankind can be immense."

Superman

give it a year and we'll see it being sold as a ps 2 accesory