Cockroach Cyborgs Receive an Upgrade in Sound Detection for Rescue Missions (VIDEO)

Scientists are giving cyborg cockroaches an upgrade. They've created new technology that allows these biobots to pick up sounds with small microphones, and then seek out the source of the sound. The new tech could help emergency personnel find and rescue survivors in the aftermath of a disaster.

"In a collapsed building, sound is the best way to find survivors," said Alper Bozkurt, one of the researchers, in a news release.

The biobots are equipped with electronic backpacks that control the cockroach's movements. Now, the scientists have created two types of customized backpacks using microphones. One of them has a single microphone that can capture relatively high-resolution sound from any direction that can then be wirelessly transmitted to first responders. The second type is equipped with an array of three directional microphones that can detect the direction of the sound.

"The goal is to use the biobots with high-resolution microphones to differentiate between sounds that matter-like people calling for help-from sounds that don't matter-like a leaking pipe," said Bozkurt. "Once we've identified sounds that matter, we can use the biobots equipped with microphone arrays to zero in on where those sounds are coming from."

The biobots aren't just useful for locating trapped victims, though. They could also be used to map a disaster area. Currently, the scientists are already working to develop the next generation of biobot networking and localization technology.

The findings could be huge when it comes to sending in robots to assess dangerous areas that humans wouldn't normally be able to access. By using these cockroach cyborgs, search-and-rescue teams can greatly improve their ability to help victims after a disaster.

Want to learn more? You can check out the video below, courtesy of YouTube.