Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Proponent:
Gregorio, Vincent L.
IV Nobel
Chapter I
INTRODUCTION
Through the years, human technology has evolved significantly. More and new
discoveries are being found everyday in different part of the world. Following with these new
discoveries are the production of biobots or robots that is adapted with an animal, insect or any
organism. After some research and study, scientists found a way to develop a radio controlled
insects.
One reason in the development of this radio controlled insects is that because it can
easily blend with the environment. Without interfering or being noticed easily with large scale
creatures, it can easily operate. It can easily go to small spaces and perform tasks that are too
dangerous to humans like scouting collapsed buildings, inspection underground infrastructure and
more. Though insects cant carry heavy objects, carrying small objects like camera or sensors
made this radio controlled insects valuable in military purposes and spying.
First of all, the group had chosen this research because many laboratories, especially in
the other countries had started developing their own cyborg insects. The first research related to
this topic was made during the late 1990s, but was ignored due to its no known use to the society
yet. But now, all research laboratories are starting to make their own versions of these robotic
insects.
A special division in the pentagon, known as DARPA (Defense Advanced Research
Projects Agency), had already made robotic moths and beetles and funded research concerning
cyborg creatures. The research group implanted the microcontroller to the insect during its larval
stage so that the adult moth or beetle would not have difficulties in adapting to the implanted
stimulation device (Adee, 2009).
In the past 2 years, a group known as the Backyard brains had made a commercially
available neural stimulation device, which implanted to a cockroach. The kit was made by
making a circuit that sends signals, whose frequency is around 55Hz, from the circuit board to the
electrodes and from the electrodes to the antenna, and thus enabling the cockroachs walking
muscles to be controlled remotely (Marzullo and Gage, 2012).
This neural stimulation is also already in use in other countries, where people with
amputated parts, such as the arm or the leg, can be replaced with robotic ones, that can be
controlled by our own thoughts (Jacobs, 2013). Also, this interface was already used on a woman
with a degenerative brain disease, thus enabling her to control a robotic arm to eat and write
(Prigg, 2012).
the electronics during the pupa stage of the insect, so that the insect would be adapted to the
electronics and signals can be quickly sent. Pentagon had used beetles and moths because of their
large carrying capacity. And now, these insects are now already tested for simulations (Turse,
2008).
Through these studies, the researchers got an interest to do the same research to know if
this stimulation can really work out in different insects. The researchers also picked out dubia
cockroaches as its sample in the research because of its availability in the Philippines. These
cockroaches can be easily breed and lay many eggs that is why it is low cost. The care of this
insect are also easy and dont escape easily.
Hypothesis
Answering the following problems, the researchers present the following
hypothesis.
1. No, adding a forward and backward motion is not possible.
2. No, the stimulation will not be able to take control of the wing muscles of the
insects.
3. No, there will be no changes to the insects after the stimulation experiment.
4. No, there will be no difference between the responses of the insects in different
stimulation.
be quite dangerous and cant be reaching by man. Another is for surveillance, using the same
sensors, and another is for tracking the conditions of the environment.
Since the researchers will also use a commercially available type of insects here in the
Philippines, it would be easier for this project to be done without importing insects that have a
possibility of being dead before it reaches the destination. The Philippines is also an agricultural
country that is why looking for insects to be use in this kind of experiment will be easy.
Aside from understanding the physical parts of the insects, learning more about its
nervous system is also important. Through understanding the nervous system and responses of
insects, people can use to different purposes. People can make repellants to certain insect by
understanding its responses. Through this study, the researchers will also gain more
understanding about neuroscience which may help in further studies about brain.
sexual dimorphism; wings is short or absent for female (Bell et al., 2007), is present in dubia
cockroaches, female cant control their flight. According to (Kessel et al., 2009), Flight
experiments showed that male dubia cockroaches can fly and make a proper landing while female
dubia cockroaches can only do a ballistic dive phase; or a projectile-fall of insects.
Definition of Terms
1. Neuroscience - The study of the brain and nervous system, including molecular
neuroscience, cellular neuroscience, cognitive neuroscience, diseases of the nervous system.
(http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=25656)
2. Cyborg Short for Cybernetic Organism, a cyborg is an organism whose physiological
functioning is aided by or dependent upon a mechanical or electronic device.
(http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cyborg)
3.
Pronotum - The pronotum is a prominent plate-like structure that covers all or part of the
thorax of some insects. The pronotum covers the dorsal surface of the thorax.
(http://www.amentsoc.org/insects/glossary/terms/pronotum)
4. cold-blooded all animals that temperature varies depending on the surrounding environment.
(http://www.amentsoc.org/insects/glossary/terms/pronotum)
Chapter II
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Most of the things used by humans are designed and copied from the natural
environment. Through these things copied from nature, human civilization had progress. One
example is the project presented by researchers at Harvard University. According to Robert
Wood as cited by (Ross, 2007), with micro-scale materials to create a controllable fly, stealth
surveillance and military missions can be done easily. The only problem that Wood and his
colleagues found is the extreme high cost of the materials.
In contrast with just mimicking the natures organisms, through experiment and
studies, scientists at the University of California found a way to control the flight of a giant
flower beetle. According to Michel Maharbiz as cited by (Singer, 2009), instead of trying to
copy the flying system of an insect, they took advantage on the beetles flying ability by
implanting machines to insects. The scientists had conducted experiment on controlling flying
insects but the current research was their first demonstration of a wireless beetle system. Through
electrodes, electrical signals can be directed to the insects commanding it to fly, turn left or right
or hover in mid-air. The scientist also said that adding cameras can be possible because unlike
cyborg moths, beetles can transport small components of cameras. Through these studies, the
researchers got the idea to make cyborg insects. In addition, instead of using the same specimen
used in the previous study, the researchers will use locally available insects in the Philippines.
The researchers also got the idea that by attaching the electrodes to the muscle of the part to be
controlled, different motion can be done since electrode is the one that receives signals from the
controller and interact with the neurons and muscles of insect.
The subjects in the experiment will be the Dubia cockroaches (Blaptica Dubia),
which is one of the largest of their kind. According to (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2014), Dubia
cockroaches can grow from 1.6 up to 1.8 inches. Adult males have fully developed wings.
Through these details the researchers got the idea to include only male dubia cockroaches since
the flying motion will also be tested
The researchers wont kill the subjects in the specimens as the electrodes attached to the
antennae of the insects wont pose danger to the insects. According to (Singer 2008), through
electrodes, neural and cochlear implant can be more safe and possible. Electrode can sometimes
dealt damage to neurons when having neural implant to cure Parkinsons disease thats why
coated electrode where developed. Through these studies, the researchers got the idea that even
though there will be surgery and attachment of electrodes, the specimens wont die in the
experiment. And according to (Willard, 2009), Blaptica dubia roaches are larger roaches,
measuring from 1.5-2 inches. Blaptica dubia roaches are sexually dimorphic, with male Blaptica
dubia roaches possessing complete wings, and female Blaptica dubia roaches possess wing buds.
The article above is the main reason on why only male specimens of the species are going to be
used in the neural stimulation, especially in the flying motion.
Since the start of biobots or cyborg insects, researchers and scientists look for a
way to improve the use of these cyborg insects. According to Dr. Edgar Lobaton as cited by
(Science Daily, 2013), by developing software and putting electronic sensors, mapping dangerous
environments which GPS cant reach can be possible. Through these, it had been known to the
researchers that by creating the project, helping for a search and rescue will be possible without
risks.
CHAPTER III
METHODOLOGY
The researchers of Caloocan City Science High School want to see the effects of a neural
stimulation to a specific species of cockroaches. Through different attachment of electrodes and
different surgery for each pair of cockroaches, the researchers will test the feasibility of adding a
forward and backward motion and flying motion and its effectiveness through the reaction time
displayed by each insect.
Research Setting
The setting of the experiment is done in one free of space area. To have control of
environmental factors like sunlight, air, predation and type of food, the researchers put the
subjects in container and is observed and place at one safe place. To prevent the intervening
factors when undergoing experiments, the testing of neural stimulation will be held at one closewide spaced room. The surgeries and addition of electrodes and control kit for the insects will
also be held at the same room.
Participants/Subjects
To see is the neural stimulation will work on commercially available insects in the
Philippines; the researchers used dubia cockroaches. The researchers also put the insects in
different neural stimulation to see if there is a significant difference between the reactions of each
insect to the stimulation. The subjects in the experiment will require six specimens of
cockroaches. Six specimens for cockroach specifically the Blaptica dubia are required for the
different neural-stimulation conditions. The researchers chose the following subjects one is
because of their size. The surgery and attachment of circuit board will be more efficient in an
insect with big body. The adult dubia cockroaches can grow 1.61.8 inches making the insects
one of the largest of their kind. Next is because of their cleanliness. Since most of the dubia
cockroaches are common food for a reptile pet, raising and taking care of dubia cockroaches
makes these cockroaches clean and safe. The specimen of dubia cockroaches is also obtained
through transaction with a people who keeps dubia as a food for pet. The dubia used in this study
were 15 pesos each adult male, which is the most lower price that can be get with buying this
kind of cockroaches. The researchers also pick the insects for they are safer and pose almost no
danger to humans except for their sharp legs and foots. According to (Johnson, 2008), dubia
cockroaches are scavengers and only feed on small pieces of meat left by other animals.
However, dubia cockroaches much prefer a vegetable that is slightly sweet. These cockroaches
cant also breed easily in a normal house and cant easily escape for their slow movement.
Through these, the researchers were convinced to use a dubia cockroach. The researchers also
made that the specimens will not have large differences in terms of weight, and other physical
quantities for each insects to diminish the factors that may affect the factors like the effectiveness
of flying motion.
Research Design
The researches will use the RCBD to see and organize the results in the experiment.
Considering the flying ability of the insects, the researchers will have all the subjects be male
since the female cockroach have poor control over flight. The researchers would consider the
following factors: the reaction time of forward and backward motion, left and right motion and
flying motion. To show the significant changes in the specimens reaction, the response time,
distance covered and distance per unit time will be averaged for each three trial and compared to
every results of other testing per day.
Cockroach 1
Trials
Response
Time
Distance
Covered
Distance
covered per
unit time
Left leg
motion
observed
Right leg
motion
observed
Distance
covered per
unit time
Left leg
motion
observed
Right leg
motion
observed
Distance
covered per
unit time
Left leg
motion
observed
Right leg
motion
observed
Trial 1
Trial 2
Cockroach 2
Trials
Response
Time
Distance
Covered
Trial 1
Trial 2
Flying Motion
Subjects
Cockroach 3
Trials
Response
Time
Distance
Covered
Trial 1
Trial 2
Shown in the table above is the proper grouping of different insects and the different
treatment for each pair or group. The researchers will use the table to compare the average results
for each trial in each day a test will be done.
specimen to see if there mass can also affect the reaction time of the insects and its speed. The
researchers will also use the digital weighing scale to see the physical changes before and after
the application of the neural stimulation to the insects.
Procedures
Gathering of subjects
Surgery of the
specimens
Fabrication of Circuit
Board
Statistical
Analysis
Testing of the
specimens to
different treatments
Gathering of Subjects
For the safety of the researchers, the specimens will come from online sellers. The
researchers decided not to chose common household cockroaches for it will also cause harm to
the researcher. These cockroaches are commonly cared as pets and thus making the insects clean.
The breeders ensure the cleanliness of the reproduction of the insects since these insects are
commonly used as food for reptiles.
Statistical Analysis
The researchers will use various trends to compare to each other data over a period of
time. Through some test, the resulting average reaction time, distance covered and distance
covered over time will also be compare to the same factors after days of experiment is done.
Physical and other things about the state being of the specimens will also be compared to the state
being of the specimens before the experiment.
The researchers will use ANOVA I to see if there are significant differences between
different insects. The researchers will also compare the mean for each treatment per different
insects. And using a line graph, the researchers will graph and draw the trend of the reaction time
of the insects.
Anesthesizing of the
specimen
Attachment of the
electrode
connector
Attachment of ground
wire into the thorax
Arrangement of
the wires above the
elctrode
The leftmost wire is attached to the thorax of the cockroach. First, one of the wings is
splayed out so that the thorax is exposed. A clean cotton bud is then used to wipe the moisture off
the thorax. A hole is then poked in a position off center, because the esophagus may be hit and
the specimen may die if the hole is poked through the center of the thorax. The wire in the
leftmost part of the electrode is inserted into the hole made in the thorax. The glue used to attach
the electrode is put to a splinter of wood, which is then applied to the part of the wire just above
the thorax. Then park the wire by 1 to 3 mm more into the thorax. Finally, the cockroach is
dipped again in the ice water.
To Thorax
to Left antenna
to Right antenna
Electrode
Battery
Block Diagram of the final connections in the circuit board
Figure 1.2 Expected appearance of specimen after surgery (Marzullo and Gage, 2012)
The red boards are the frequency-producing boards that are connected to the electrodes
(attached above the pronotum). The green board is the remote control board that will receive
signals from the remote and send current to the red boards.