Here’s a new way of looking at controlling robots. Forget about AI or human controlled devices – why not use a roach? That’s what Garnet Hertz, a graduate student at UCI, did with a Madagascan hissing roach (the same ones you see on Fear Factor). The roach lies atop a modified trackball which is aboard a three wheeled robot. As the robot nears immobile objects such as walls, a bright light is shined at the roach causing the roach to move in a different direction. Pretty nifty project.

[Check it out via Engadget.com]

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