《经济学人》：半机械蟑螂可以在坍塌建筑中搜索幸存者？
原文标题：
Cyborginsects
Roachestotherescue
Robotisedarthropodsmaysearchcollapsedbuildingsforsurvivors
Cyber-roaches
Theycandetectmovement,bodywarmthandexhaledcarbondioxide
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WHYGOTOallthetroubleofdesigningandbuildingadroneifnaturehasalreadydonemostofthejobforyou?Thatistheattitudetakenbythesmallbutdeterminedbandofresearcherswhoaretryingtorobotiseinsects.Someareworkingonturningflyingcritterslikebeetlesintosuchcyborgs—perhapsforuseinmilitaryreconnaissanceorespionage.Othersprefertoconcentrateonthecreepy-crawlysideofentomology,bytakingelectroniccontrolofcockroaches.
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Thefirstcyber-roachgoesbackto,whenShimoyamaIsaoofTokyoUniversitysentelectricalsignalstoacockroach’santennae,causingittoturneitherleftorrightdependingonwhichantennawasstimulated.Othershavebuiltonthisapproachbyrecruitingextrasenseorgans,suchastherear-facingcerci.Theyhavealsobegunfittingtheinsectswithinstrumentpacksthatmightletthemdoausefuljob:searchingcollapsedbuildingsforsurvivors.
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OnesuchisSatoHirotakaofNanyangTechnologicalUniversity,inSingapore.Hehasbeenworkingoncyber-insects(includingflyingversions,intheformofgiantflowerbeetles)for15years.Now,hehasaddedanothertwisttocyber-roaches.Insteadofhavingtheirmovementsdictatedbyremotecontrol,hisareautonomousagents.Theyarerunbyalgorithmsthatresponddirectlytosensorsintheirbackpacks.
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TheinsectsthusfittedoutbyDrSatoareMadagascarhissingcockroaches,whichareabout6cmlong.Thebackpackscontaina