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The cagey bee

From a request for proposals posted March 9 by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, a branch of the U.S. Department of Defense.

DARPA seeks innovative proposals to develop insect-cyborgs, possibly enabled by intimately integrating microsystems within insects during early stages of their metamorphosis. The final demonstration goal is the delivery of an insect within five meters of a target located one hundred meters away, using electronic remote control and/or global positioning system. The insect must remain stationary either indefinitely or until otherwise instructed and be able to transmit data from relevant sensors, yielding information about the local environment. These sensors can include gas sensors, microphones, video, etc. Although flying insects are of great interest (e.g., moths and dragonflies), hopping and swimming insects could also meet final demonstration goals.

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SEE ALSO: Insects; Research grants; United States. Dept. of Defense; War use

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