60 replies to this topic

[Still Waters]

Researchers have shown off a 'cyborg' cockroach they can control remotely.

The team have been able to accurately steer it to follow complex shapes on the ground.

Now they hope to fit it with video cameras and other sensors, so it can crawl into buildings undetected, and even search earthquakes for survivors.

http://www.dailymail...spy-future.html

[meryt-tetisheri]

Still Waters, on 07 September 2012 - 08:04 PM, said:

Researchers have shown off a 'cyborg' cockroach they can control remotely.

The team have been able to accurately steer it to follow complex shapes on the ground.

Now they hope to fit it with video cameras and other sensors, so it can crawl into buildings undetected, and even search earthquakes for survivors.

http://www.dailymail...spy-future.html

Until it gets squished....a noble objective using 'yucky' means. Of all the billions of creatures on Earth, they had to choose cockroaches to create their "mobile web of sensors"?

[None of the above]

Sick and cruel.

[Simbi Laveau]

At last ,a practical use for roaches,but those are madagasgar hissing roaches,arent they ?
Not the garden variety waterbug type .
It does seem cruel ,but looking for earthquake victims,well maybe .
PETA will be on this like flies on poo ....

[DKO]

I doubt the cockroaches are in distress. From what i've read, no insects have real emotions.

[kobolds]

Atlantia, on 07 September 2012 - 10:18 PM, said:

Sick and cruel.

True . even  it's a cockroach , we should not treat it like that

[ThickasaBrick]

I see no problems with this. Cockroaches are in no way endangered or even close to being in trouble as species. If it takes 100 roaches to save one person then this is a success. I love animals and nature but a human life if worth more than an insects. If they breed two roaches and freeze one, release the other into their natural habitat, then even PETA should have no issues.

[Order66]

A cockroach terminator ... on the outside, it looks like one of them, but inside it is a killing machine that will stop at nothing until all cockroaches are dead! Hasta la vista ...

[Timonthy]

Atlantia, on 07 September 2012 - 10:18 PM, said:

Sick and cruel.

And you've never squished a bug?

'I'm a vegetarian because I don't believe in animal cruelty, but fish don't count' etc...

Please define sick and cruel Atlantia!?

[None of the above]

Timonthy, on 08 September 2012 - 03:39 PM, said:

And you've never squished a bug?

'I'm a vegetarian because I don't believe in animal cruelty, but fish don't count' etc...

Please define sick and cruel Atlantia!?

*snip*

Define Sick and cruel? Torturing any living creature surely counts by my definition.
Oh and FYI I'm a Vegan. What exactly do you do to try and make the world a better place?

Edited by Saru, 09 September 2012 - 09:15 AM.
Removed personal remark

[None of the above]

jgorman628, on 08 September 2012 - 02:40 PM, said:

I see no problems with this. Cockroaches are in no way endangered or even close to being in trouble as species. If it takes 100 roaches to save one person then this is a success. I love animals and nature but a human life if worth more than an insects. If they breed two roaches and freeze one, release the other into their natural habitat, then even PETA should have no issues.

The ethical consideration here shouldn't be affected by species or numbers. It's about the morality of turning a living creature into a tool via torture and wires stuck into where it's antenna should be.
Although I'm not a member nor do I speak for PETA the organisation, I would expect that 'People for the ethical treatment of animals' would oppose this type of procedure as it's clearly not an 'ethical way to treat any living creature.

Edited by Atlantia, 08 September 2012 - 05:12 PM.

[None of the above]

kobolds, on 08 September 2012 - 01:59 PM, said:

True . even  it's a cockroach , we should not treat it like that

Glad that someone can see beyond the fact that this is a cockroach. Wrong is wrong. Doesn't matter what the animal is.

[Junior Chubb]

Atlantia, on 07 September 2012 - 10:18 PM, said:

Sick and cruel.

kobolds, on 08 September 2012 - 01:59 PM, said:

True . even  it's a cockroach , we should not treat it like that

I was thinking that this is no different from using a horse to pull a cart, or elephants to move timber. Do you have similar feelings to the use of animals in this way or is the roach situation different to you?

[Kazoo]

Atlantia, on 08 September 2012 - 05:03 PM, said:

Glad that someone can see beyond the fact that this is a cockroach. Wrong is wrong. Doesn't matter what the animal is.

Then I guess nature is wrong. You know with the animals eating each other.

Terrible. Someone should stop this.

Nature is cruel and unforgiving. We will be cruel and unforgiving the same way with technology. Get over it.

[None of the above]

Junior Chubb, on 08 September 2012 - 07:10 PM, said:

I was thinking that this is no different from using a horse to pull a cart, or elephants to move timber. Do you have similar feelings to the use of animals in this way or is the roach situation different to you?

A horse is trained. The cockroach is compelled via electrodes.
If you mean do I see the situation as analagous to a well cared for trained horse or elephant or dog, then no I don't. If you are asking if I see it as analagous to a mistreated, overworked and exploited donkey or horse then I guess yes, in as much as they are both mistreatment.
Do you really not see that there are degrees of treatment?
A bridle and bit might not be entirely comfortable for a horse but it's not the same as being compelled with implanted electrodes.