U.S. Military Plans to Make Insect Cyborgs

[kpete]

Published on Tuesday, March 14, 2006 by United Press International
U.S. Military Plans to Make Insect Cyborgs
by Shaun Waterman



WASHINGTON - Facing problems in its efforts to train insects or build robots that can mimic their flying abilities, the U.S. military now wants to develop "insect cyborgs" that can go where its soldiers cannot.

The Pentagon is seeking applications from researchers to help them develop technology that can be implanted into living insects to control their movement and transmit video or other sensory data back to their handlers.

In an announcement posted on government Web sites last week, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, says it is seeking "innovative proposals to develop technology to create insect cyborgs," by implanting tiny devices into insect bodies while the animals are in their pupal stage.

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The goal is to create technology that can achieve "the delivery of an insect within five meters of a specific target located at hundred meters away, using electronic remote control, and/or global positioning system." Once at the target, "the insect must remain stationary either indefinitely or until otherwise instructed ... (and) must also be able to transmit data from (Department of Defense) relevant sensors ... includ(ing) gas sensors, microphones, video, etc."

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0314-03.htm

[LiberalEsto]

1. Where's my cyborg can of Raid?

Undoubtedly these insects will look like locusts as a symbol of the unbridled greed of this Misadministration and its cronies.

[shadowknows69]

2. Well, this has bad science fiction plot written all over it

Bad as in, bad for humanity when our new cyborg insects decide they don't want to work for Uncle Sam anymmore.

[Sequoia]

3. That tears it! I suspected flies are spying on us.

You're trying to sleep and a pesky critters land on your cheek and stare at you while he rub's his tiny legs together. Once you try to swat him away he goes and lands where you can't reach. Watching, always watching and listening. Call out the spiders!!

[The_Casual_Observer]

4. Military budget is too big?

[Bonhomme Richard]

5. Here's a picture of one on duty

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

6. Gives new meaning to the "Butterfly Effect".

Trust our beloved Pentagon to find uses...for lining the pockets of their pals in the "defense" industry.

[rpgamerd00d]

7. Gives new meaning to "sweeping for bugs" :) -nt

[mom cat]

8. Gives new meaning to the phrase: "being bugged"

[ReadTomPaine]

9. Fifth Element, anyone? n/t

[Canuckistanian]

10. Tom Delay's new job!

I always knew he would be able to serve his country somehow.

[BR_Parkway]

11. Didn't Shrub say No Hybrids in SOTU address? Now, everything

he's said has turned out to be a lie (the only surprise was that there was something that hadn't been debunked that lasted this long)

[ima_sinnic]

12. as an entomologist, I'd rather have a root canal than assist them

in any way with this. Just another way of torturing living beings for their own demented ends.
F(*#@%$K YOU, clowns!!!

[EVDebs]

13. CBS News article says Pentagon can't find $2.3 Trillion !

www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/01/29/eveningnews/main325985.shtml

[eppur_se_muova]

14. So there won't be a flying Stiquito?

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0818675144.01._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-dp-arrow,TopRight,18,-22_AA140_SH20_SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/0471488828.01._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-dp-arrow,TopRight,18,-22_AA160_SH20_SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg