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Insect cyborgs with embedded microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) will run remotely controlled reconnaissance missions for the military, if the Hybrid Insect-MEMS program succeeds. HI-MEMS, hatched earlier this year at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa), aims to harness insects the way horses were harnessed by the cavalry.
"We have used horses for locomotion in wars," said Darpa program manager Amit Lal. "The HI-MEMS program aims to develop technology that provides more control over insect locomotion, just as saddles or horseshoes are needed for horse-locomotion control."
Darpa notes that elephants also have been used for locomotion during wartime, pigeons have been used to send covert messages, canaries have detected gases in coal mines, and bees have located land mines. Now, moths and beetles are reporting for duty.
Three research groups at the University of Michigan, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Boyce Thompson Institute were awarded funding by Darpa-the central R&D organization for the Department of Defense-when the HI-MEMS program began earlier this year. They are expected to report preliminary results during each annual review of the three-phase program. There could be a fourth phase that transitions the technology of breeding insect battalions to the military, if the three preceding phases are successful.
"Michigan is focusing on horned beetles, while MIT and Boyce Thompson are working with large moths," said Darpa spokesman Jan Walker. "The program's first major milestone is scheduled for January 2008, when the contractors have to demonstrate controlled, tethered flight of the insect."
The final milestone at the end of phase three will be flying a cyborg insect to within 5 meters of a specific target located some 100 meters away using remote control or a global positioning system (GPS). If HI-MEMS passes this test, then Darpa will probably begin breeding insects in earnest. Swarms of insects with different embedded MEMS sensors-video cameras, audio microphones, chemical sniffers and more-could then penetrate enemy territory to perform reconnaissance missions that are impossible or too dangerous for soldiers.
Cyber critters
The vision of enhanced animals with electromechanical controllers was depicted in a 1990 novel, "Sparrowhawk," in which author Thomas Easton imagines bioengineering-enlarged birds and insects used as beasts of burden. In the book, reengineered birds become airliners, and enlarged beetles are used to make automobiles. The...