This time I need to choose something interesting, and I come to my friends, team of biotechnologists, to find new ideas.
And it worked perfectly, they suggest to create cyborg. Cockroach cyborg!
Some time ago, such project appears, which allows users to learn neuroscience through experiment with cockroach - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/backyardbrains/the-roboroach-control-a-living-insect-from-your-sm
We got the same electronics board and decided to repeat experiment.
Main principles are here:
Cockroaches use the antennas on their head to navigate the world around them. When these antennas touch a wall, the cockroach turns away from the wall. The antenna of a cockroach contains neurons that are sensitive to touch and smell.
The backpack we place on cockroach communicates directly to the neurons via small electrical pulses. The cockroach undergoes a short surgery (under anesthesia) in which wires are placed inside the antenna. Once it recovers, a backpack is temporarily placed on its back.
When you send the command from your mobile phone, the backpack sends pulses to the antenna, which causes the neurons to fire, which causes the roach to think there is a wall on one side. The result? The roach turns! Microstimulation is the same neurotechnology that is used to treat Parkinson’s Disease and is also used in Cochlear Implants.
First of all, cockroad should be freezed in ice (as anasthesia) for 3 minutes – they fall in sleep for 5-10 minutes. It will allow us to make operation without additional efforts to handle cockroach.