The idea seems to be scooped straight out of the Matrix. The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is envisioning ‘Cyborg insects’ with microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) that will run remotely controlled reconnaissance missions for the military. The project dubbed Hybrid-Insect MEMS (HI-MEMS) is without doubt one of the most creative theoretical applications of DARPA’s “cyborg insect” research.

The program endeavors to harness insects the way horses were harnessed by the cavalry. Three different research groups at the University of Michigan, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Boyce Thompson Institute are being funded by DARPA for the HI-MEMS program. Program manager, Amit Lal at DARPA said that it’s the moths and beetles turn now to report for duty, just as dogs have already done.

The HI-MEMS is a three-phase fundamental research-and-development program but, we can expect a fourth phase at the end (if program is a success) that shifts the technology of breeding insect battalions to the military. The main challenge at the end of the phase III will be flying a cyborg insect to within five meters of a specific target, which is positioned nearly one hundred meters away using remote control or a global positioning system (GPS).

If that happens, DARPA can develop insect swarms equipped with range of embedded MEMS sensors, such as video cameras, audio microphones, and chemical sniffers so that they could move into enemy territory in swarms to perform reconnaissance missions otherwise dangerous for soldiers.

The development of future autonomous defense systems will be highly influenced by HI-MEMS technologies that will facilitate various robotic capabilities at low cost. The basic technology employed in this program could even be used as a biological tool to know and control insect development. Moreover, it could offer new technological techniques to harness the natural sensors and power generation from insects.

Via: EEtimes / StephenYears105840