Nov 9, 2014
The cockroach cyborgs—called biobots—are equipped with tiny electronic backpacks that control the cockroach's movements. In one version, a single multi-directional microphone captures relatively high-resolution sound which is then transmitted wirelessly to first responders.
In the other version, multiple three-directional microphones detect the location of the sound to innately direct the biobot in that direction. "In a collapsed building, sound is the best way to find survivors," said Dr. Alper Bozkurt, an assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at North Carolina State University and senior author of two papers on the work.