Kinect遥控蟑螂有望用于搜救任务

美国北卡罗来纳州立大学(NCSU)的研究人员们开发出一种利用Xbox Kinect 遥控蟑螂进行搜救任务的方法──透过将电极连接到蟑螂的触角上，就能够遥控蟑螂沿着设定路线自动前进。 北卡罗莱纳州立大学的研究人员将在今年七月举行的《IEEE遥控昆虫生物机器人研讨会》(Remote Controlled Insect Biobots Minisymposium)发表这项研究的最新进展。研究人员们指出，蟑螂比起大型且笨重的机器人更适合进行搜索与救援工作。透过将电极附加在蟑螂触角上，并以脉冲引导其自动前进，NCSU的研究人员们宣称目前已经能够引导这些昆虫大军前往任何方向进行搜救。 根据IEEE解释，“生物机器人” (Biobot)是指能以无线遥控的昆虫以及其它动物。 “我们的目标在于引导这些蟑螂，让他们以最有效率的路径为救难人员迅速提供有关救援现场的完整情况，”北卡罗莱那州立大学教授Alper Bozkurt表示。 Bozkurt 与北卡罗莱纳州立大学的研究人员们利用 Xbox Kinect 3D红外测距仪追踪蟑螂的运动，然后透过遥控器来引导其前进路线。信号之一传送至昆虫的腹部，使其迅速向前行进，而其它脉冲信号则传送至昆虫左右触角使其 产生某个物体在前方的联想，因而使其转向朝该物体前进。透过将这些信号编程为实时反应的自主驾驶模式，该研究团队能够引导蟑螂自动沿着测试预定的路线前 进。

Source：Alper BozkurtRoaesmc

根据北卡罗莱纳州立大学的研究人员表示，未来还可为这些蟑螂加装 MEMS 麦克风和扬声器，使受难者能透过安装在蟑螂身上的无线电收发器与搜救人员进行通信。 本文为《国际电子商情》原创，版权所有，谢绝转载 编译：Susan Hong 参考英文原文：Remote-Controlled Cockroaches Could Aid Search & Rescue，by R. Colin Johnson

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{pagination} Remote-Controlled Cockroaches Could Aid Search & Rescue R. Colin Johnson PORTLAND, Ore. — North Carolina State University (NCSU) researchers have developed a way to use cockroaches for search and rescue missions by attaching electrodes to their antennas. At next month's IEEE Remote Controlled Insect Biobots Minisymposium, NCSU researches will make the claim that cockroaches are better suited for search and rescue than big bulky robots. By attaching electrodes to the "scamper" reflex center and "steering" them with impulses to their antennae, the NCSU team claims to be able to guide the insect-sized search-and-rescue workers in any direction. Biobots are insects and other animals that are wirelessly remote controlled, according to the IEEE Remote Controlled Insect Biobots Minisymposium. "Our goal is to be able to guide these roaches, sending them on the most efficient routes to provide rescuers with a comprehensive view of the situation," said NCSU professor Alper Bozkurt. Bozkurt and colleagues at NCSU used a Kinect 3D infrared range finder to track the cockroaches' movements then guide them by remote control. One signal goes to the insect's abdomen, causing it to rush ahead, while separate impulses into either the left or right antenna make it think an object is there, thus turning it in the opposite direction. By programming these signals into an autopilot that reacts instantly, the team was able to guide the cockroaches around a line-following test course. The roaches could someday also be equipped with tiny MEMS microphones and speakers, according to NCSU, thus enabling victims to communicate with rescue workers through the cockroach-mounted radio transceiver. The Remote Controlled Insect Biobots Minisymposium at the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society 2013 takes place July 3-7 in Osaka, Japan. Funding for the NCSU project was provided by the National Science Foundation.