Indeed, you read that title correctly. North Caroline State University scientists have placed a mircocontroller on the cockroach, wired to it's antennae, to...well...control it, WIRELESSLY!
The microcontroller is wired to the roach's antennae and cerci.
The cerci are sensory organs on the roach's abdomen, which are normally used to detect movement in the air that could indicate a predator is approaching - causing the roach to scurry away. But the researchers use the wires attached to the cerci to spur the roach into motion. The roach thinks something is sneaking up behind it and moves forward.
The wires attached to the antennae serve as electronic reins, injecting small charges into the roach's neural tissue. The charges trick the roach into thinking that the antennae are in contact with a physical barrier, which effectively steers them in the opposite direction.
Take a look at the video below of the wirelessly controlled roached and see how science has doomed us all once again. Have a great weekend!
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