Some time ago we spoke of DelFly Micro, a "robot" miniature camera and image recognition software, very useful in search and rescue situations but was unlikely to flight stability in real situations (weather, air currents, etc.). So while nanotech takes care of that, creating an army of cyborg insects just one step closer to reality thanks to researchers at the University of California.
The research team led by electrical engineer Hirotaka Sato, recently announced that they have successfully implanted electrodes in a beetle way that allows scientists to control the movements of insect flight.
This system mounted on the dorsal prothorax is nerve stimulators, muscle stimulators, a micro-controller for transmission and reception of radio and a micro-battery.
The DARPA-supported research is part of a broader effort known as the HI-MEMS program, which has been specifically looking for different approaches to the implementation of micro-mechanical systems into insects to control their movements.
A number of research teams are working on this ambitious project by reporting tangible successes. For example, researchers at the University of Michigan have shown the implants in a butterfly flight, but Berkeley scientists seem to have shown an impressive degree of control over the flight of insects, have recently reported that are capable of using an implant for stimulation of nerves in the brain of the beetle to start, stop and control insects in flight.
