DIY Photography

Your one stop shop for everything photo-video

  • News
  • Inspiration
  • Reviews
  • Tutorials
  • DIY
  • Gear
Search

Submit A Story

This cockroach is actually a tiny search and rescue camera

Jun 8, 2021 by Dunja Djudjic 1 Comment

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Flipboard
  • WhatsApp

A team of robotic researchers has created the only cockroach that you don’t want to step on. Scientists from Germany, China, Singapore, and the UK teamed up to create a crossover between a living cockroach and a mini camera. This cyborg insect would be used for search and rescue missions as it can surpass the limitations of the other existing miniature robots.

The idea of a remote-controlled cockroach isn’t entirely new. It was first introduced almost a decade ago, and there have been some other attempts at developing a tiny camera that could fit on a beetle’s back. But apparently, this new concept overcomes some of the obstacles that scientists struggled with before.

According to the team behind this cyborg cockroach, its main use would be in search and rescue missions in areas hit by disasters. However, there is still a long way to go before mini-robots like this can be used in such missions. There are some significant obstacles to these solutions, like power consumption, obstacle-avoidance system, and “computation load of the locomotion,” according to the research. However, this “insect–computer hybrid system” resolves all of them.

This tiny camera looks a lot like a cockroach because it actually is one. A little creepy, isn’t it? It consists of a living Madagascar hissing cockroach and a wireless backpack with a camera and a microcontroller. The insect has a natural, intrinsic navigation capability which is utilized in its cyborg form as well. It successfully deals with unknown environments and can surpass various obstacles, which is another plus in search and rescue missions.

Credits: arXiv:2105.10869

Autonomous navigation is enabled by the electrical stimulation of the insect’s sensory system. This is at the same time the only thing that requires power, so the cockroach-cam requires very low power consumption. Consequently, it can operate for much longer than any other miniature robot camera, and it’s essential for its potential use in real-life missions.

Credits: arXiv:2105.10869

As for the camera, the insect carries an infrared camera that allows for on-device human detection thanks to machine learning.  “By controlling the stimulation […], the algorithm successfully directed the insect through obstacles to reach predetermined targets,” the scientists write.

This solution for search and rescue missions sounds useful for humans but inhumane for cockroaches. Not that I am a big fan of them (except for Gregor Samsa), but still. Also, I can’t help but think about the potential misuse of this kind of technology. Anyone could actually become the proverbial “fly on the wall…” Or a cockroach in the bathtub, in this case.

[via PetaPixel, arXiv:2105.10869]

FIND THIS INTERESTING? SHARE IT WITH YOUR FRIENDS!

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Flipboard
  • WhatsApp

Related posts:

Canon breaks into the drone market with a new $40K search and rescue drone & camera combo Default ThumbnailPhotography From The Future: Cockroach Cam Re-Search fights gender stereotypes in job image search This tiny camera is actually a case for your AirPods

Filed Under: news Tagged With: cockroach, Cockroach Cam, Search and Rescue

Dunja Djudjic: from diyphotography.net

About Dunja Djudjic

Dunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.

« Panasonic adds GH5 II autofocus compatibility to a bunch of MFT lenses with new firmware
The Dualflash wants to turn your single speedlight into two light sources »

Submit A Story

Get our FREE Lighting Book

DIYP lighting book cover

* download requires newsletter signup
DIYPhotography

Recent Comments

Free Resources

Advanced lighting book

Recent Posts

  • Here’s a bullet time video booth you can build yourself
  • Ricoh has discontinued the HD PENTAX-DA 21mm F3.2AL Limited silver lens
  • This “stellar flower” unravels the twilight’s evolution in 360 degrees
  • Strobes vs Continuous LEDs – Which is right for you?
  • Wave goodbye to Apple’s My Photo Stream next month

Udi Tirosh: from diyphotography.netUdi Tirosh is an entrepreneur, photography inventor, journalist, educator, and writer based in Israel. With over 25 years of experience in the photo-video industry, Udi has built and sold several photography-related brands. Udi has a double degree in mass media communications and computer science.

Alex Baker: from diyphotography.netAlex Baker is a portrait and lifestyle driven photographer based in Valencia, Spain. She works on a range of projects from commercial to fine art and has had work featured in publications such as The Daily Mail, Conde Nast Traveller and El Mundo, and has exhibited work across Europe

David Williams: from diyphotography.netDave Williams is an accomplished travel photographer, writer, and best-selling author from the UK. He is also a photography educator and published Aurora expert. Dave has traveled extensively in recent years, capturing stunning images from around the world in a modified van. His work has been featured in various publications and he has worked with notable brands such as Skoda, EE, Boeing, Huawei, Microsoft, BMW, Conde Nast, Electronic Arts, Discovery, BBC, The Guardian, ESPN, NBC, and many others.

John Aldred: from diyphotography.netJohn Aldred is a photographer with over 20 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter - and occasional beta tester - of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.

Dunja Djudjic: from diyphotography.netDunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.

Copyright © DIYPhotography 2006 - 2023 | About | Contact | Advertise | Write for DIYP | Full Disclosure | Privacy Policy