- Beetles power battery with their body chemistry
- Batteries can last for days - or until insect dies
- Insects could carry sensors into toxic environment
- U.S. military already researching techniques to use insects as tiny spies
Researchers have taken a step closer to creating ‘cyborg insects’ that could carry out spying missions - with biofuel cells that run off their own bodies.
A team has created the implantable power packs that use the insects’ own body chemistry to fuel robot attachments fixed on to them.
The breakthrough brings us one step closer to the the day when bugs can be fitted with recording devices, sensors or other electronics and used as tiny spies - an area which the U.S. military's 'mad scientist' division, DARPA, has already researched extensively.
Until now researchers had relied on solar power or conventional batteries but they were not powerful enough or did not last long enough to do the tasks required. The ¿cyber bugs¿ could potentially keep going for days on end - or even for as long as they are alive
The U.S military's Darpa research wing is already researching how to 'control' insects using hi-tech attachments.
'Bees have been used to locate mines and weapons of mass destruction. The Hybrid Insect Micro Electromechanical Systems program is aimed at developing technology to provide control over insect locomotion, just as reins are needed for effective control over horse locomotion,' says Darpa'ssite.
The new technique, where the insect could 'power' electronic attachments using its own body chemistry, could be crucial.
Until now researchers had relied on solar power or conventional batteries but they were not powerful enough or did not last long enough to do that tasks required.
The ‘cyber bugs’ could potentially keep going for days on end - or even for as long as they are alive.
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