The implications of research by Darpa are absolutely amazing. When you consider that the Internet itself started out as a Darpa project during the 1950s and 1960s as a way to redundantly share the same information with hundreds of cloned computers across the U.S. so no matter what city or cities were nuked the U.S. government could continue no matter what. Now they are researching mosquito sized robots that could take blood like mosquitos do (or they could infect specific people with Ebola or other infections) take your pick. This is what things like this could be used for.
So, instead of going into battle a group of troops hit with these might all come down with Ebola and die within about 4 days or so. This might be the future of warfare here on earth.
Our Bugs Are Bugged: The Most Interesting Mosquito in The World
Incredible Technology and the U.S. Government Funding the Creation of MAV Insects
By: Leane Pupo
Bugged Bug?
My Nerd Brain is tingling. I was causally surfing the net and stumbled upon a mosquito. I looked at the photo because as much as I hate mosquitoes and the welts they leave on my, apparently, delicious flesh, they do look pretty cool. However, I immediately noticed this mosquito was very different. This mosquito was a robot.
Apparently, this is not new news, but it does not seem to have had a very large effect. I would think that people would be more curious about tiny tech. While micro, nano, or just plain small, technology of this kind is amazing. It is incredible to think that there are scientists out there studying how bugs fly and how to make computer chips and full-functioning robots fit on a penny. And while my science geek mind is incredibly aroused, the rest of me begins to tremble at the possible implications.Continue reading
Our Bugs Are Bugged: The Most Interesting Mosquito in The World
Incredible Technology and the U.S. Government Funding the Creation of MAV Insects
By: Leane Pupo
Bugged Bug?
My Nerd Brain is tingling. I was causally surfing the net and stumbled upon a mosquito. I looked at the photo because as much as I hate mosquitoes and the welts they leave on my, apparently, delicious flesh, they do look pretty cool. However, I immediately noticed this mosquito was very different. This mosquito was a robot.
Apparently, this is not new news, but it does not seem to have had a very large effect. I would think that people would be more curious about tiny tech. While micro, nano, or just plain small, technology of this kind is amazing. It is incredible to think that there are scientists out there studying how bugs fly and how to make computer chips and full-functioning robots fit on a penny. And while my science geek mind is incredibly aroused, the rest of me begins to tremble at the possible implications.
These are not cool toys. These are meant to be drones. Drones that fly around conducting surveillance, spy, and then report. Then seem so innocuous, but may in fact be listening to a secret, watching a private moment, or sucking your blood for a DNA sample?!?!
Pocket-Sized
This does seem straight out of a sci-fi novel but it is happening. And while the bugs may not yet as advanced as the tiny bug we see pictured, how do we really know how far we have come? Not everything will be exposed… It never has and it never will. I mean, I already kill a mosquito if I see one, but imagine the panic if people thought that every insect was a high-tech bug? The level of paranoia, panic, and fear would be unfathomable. I guess ignorance is bliss… Then again all the psychiatrists, psychologists, and head-shrinkers of the world will have plenty of business. Then again so will prisons… Just imagine when you get so angry and say things you don’t actually mean; like, you hate your government, or mention a bomb, or how much you want to kill someone.
The truth is, that these drones will not be used just for reconnaissance and to stop terrorism and help spies find and debunk devious government plots, they will be used on the general public. How do I know this? Well, logically I would ask how do we really know who is a terrorist? Or the next bomber? Or serial killer? Or spree killer? We can not know this; unless, we watch and suspect everyone.
There are several articles on the web, and even research (my favorite), that establish that U.S. Defense agencies are funding this bug-on-bug research (at universities like John Hopkins) to conduct these missions without having to “risk human lives”. These little critters are called micro aerial vehicles or MAVs. They can fit in tight spaces, fly through strong winds, and be relatively undetected in urban environments.
While, we really can not get way ahead of ourselves, the wonder and awe of this technology can also bring about the greatest wave of paranoia and the end of all privacy as we know it. Besides, even if we spread the word and tell everyone that the government is helping to create these nanobots with the intent to use them for not all together wholesome purposes, we can not stop it. We can protest and they will just nod, apologize, swear they’ll stop, and then continue their use.
And as a little note of advice: Seeing as we are doing a damn good job of killing them off and affecting our planet, think we can maybe create bees simply to help pollinate?
These three articles mention the studies:
http://cleantechnica.com/2012/02/07/johns-hopkins-researchers-develop-mav-the-size-of-a-bug/
This last link is to a research paper on insect wing flexibility [The first gentleman listed is working with Tiras Lin (the research student listed in the projects)]:
This last link is to a research paper on insect wing flexibility [The first gentleman listed is working with Tiras Lin (the research student listed in the projects)]:
