With an innovation worthy of a James Bond movie, Japanese scientists may have figured out a way to put together a robot-insect!

Researchers were actually able to tweak the brains circuits of creepy crawlies and change their behavioral patterns. For instance, they played around with the brain of a male silk worm and changed his mojo detecting system. Thus, one day he was just an everyday worm who was turned on by the smell of a female worm. But now, he is one of a kind guy who gets his kinky kicks from light effects. One can only imagine the possibilities!

However, for the robot-insect hybrid to work, one would have to show that these little creatures’ brains will function well with machines. And this was demonstrated using a male moth, a ball and a toy car-like contraption that presumably enabled movement.

The magic ingredient here was female odor which influenced the direction in which the little insect would scurry. The end ‘product’ was an unassuming male moth who readily swiveled and swirled the ball around even as the experimenters adjusted the difficulty of the environmental conditions.

While this is a great milestone for science and technology, insect lovers are probably sympathizing with little bug. Some of them might even point out that somewhere in Japan there is currently a very confused and frustrated moth. After all, that pheromone chase didn’t land him a special lady friend.

Insect relations aside, credit should be given where it is due. The genius behind this scheme is Ryohei Kanzak and and he had dedicated a large percentage of his life to studying insect brains. Undeniably, it would appear that this devotion has finally paid off. Along with his team at Tokyo University’s Research Centre, the professor is aiming for the next milestone in hybrid technology – robobugs which can saves human lives or, at the very least, simplify various aspects of it. In any case, with the way Japan is making progress in the robotics field, this vision could soon become reality.

Professor Kanzak certainly has an impressive view of the future – daring drug-sniffing by robobugs and valiant mine-detecting ventures by man-made insects.

What can one say? For now, let’s not break the news to the insectophobiacs.

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By shinigami on 06-08-2009