This press conference is duller than the dreams of Mike Capellas - Doctor Spinola
|
|
|
Boffins create rat-brained robots
BOFFINS AT THE University of Reading have devleoped a way of driving a robot using living tissue.
As a robot control system, it's pretty fragile. Never mind viruses, this robot can be taken out by a microbe. So the controller is made up of a small pot full of antibiotics and nutrients. Added to that base are 300,000 rat neurons. In this pinkish broth, connections are made.
As the disembodied neurons communicate with each other, their electrical impulses form the basis of a brain, or controller (as we say in electronics) that could drive a robot.
A rat brained robot? What’s that going to do? Run along the skirting board,
leaving greasy skuff marks on the paintwork? Chew through cables and set the
house on fire?
What on earth do we need a rat brained robot for?
The researchers argue that by harnessing these impulses, they can discover how the brain works. These insights gained could help us treat conditions like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease and epilepsy.
Oh yeah. They all say that don’t they? Surely there’s a hidden agenda. Should we think about getting up a torch bearing mob and burning down the labs?
No, hang on, says Kevin Warwick, Reading's head of cybernetics, who runs the project with neuroscientists Mark Hammond and Ben Whalley. "We're trying to understand what goes on inside this brain material that could have direct implications for human health," he said.
But early study exercises seem to be about mobilising this monster. In early experiments, researchers connected the culture to a wheeled robot. Their work involved learning how the robot could learn to steer itself, using these primitive impulses. The researchers now intend to plot how neural connections are created for extended journeys.
You see where they're going? Imagine the power they will have if they can build an army of robo-rats.
Meanwhile, at Georgia Tech in the US, they've had the same idea. Steve Potter, of the Georgia Institute of technology, says its all about retraining malfunctioning neuronal circuits, with a view to treating Alzheimer's. Which is great.
But what else could you do with these brains?
Share this:
Share
Rats are clever and tougher than us. I can forsee some lame horror movies about this, a terminator with a rat head.

In reality they are probably trying to use neuron paths for building a combined *software-hardware* that controls a system. An always learning adaptable system, it will make mistakes, but learn from those mistakes. Something like that I would guess.
@ Someone Special:
Yes I quite agree.
It kills me how so many people don't understand how you need the mass/energy of an entire star to create a black hole.
I'm pretty sure the LHC at CERN falls a bit
short there.

As for the electric monks;
for some reason that makes me think of
Samurai Jack..............
Science is always heading where it shouldn't. Like proving the earth is round & that babies do not come in a bag carried by a stork. 

As for CERN, it will not oblitirate the earth you simpleton. 

When scientists created a virus using only artificial ingridients they made a statement that creation is something the we can do.

Sure there might be those that will try to use technology for less than admirable objectives. In the end, all these discoveries do lead to progress.

It is because of science & the unfaltering question of "why" that we are now communicating through the internet.

I am very excited about crossing living brain matter with electronics. It may lead to a way to store memories and or thoughts etc. That directly relates to a possibility of immortatlity.
If a person can exist in electronic circuits & those circuits can be repaired and replaced, we could very well live forever.

We could then have electric monks; which will be monks who believe in useless things that no one else has time for. We could even custom tailor those to a specific religion.


"A rat brained robot? What’s that going to do? Run along the skirting board, leaving greasy skuff marks on the paintwork? Chew through cables and set the house on fire?
What on earth do we need a rat brained robot for?"

FURKIN PRICELESS !!!!!! :O)
http://technology.newscientist.com/channel/tech/mg19926696.100-rise-of-the-ratbrained-robots.html
These rats have only two career choices; Boa food or Donate organs to science. At least his sacrifice will give other rats better career opportunities. ;)

Cheers,
John
So their cutting up rats like wood for their toys?
They should do this with criminals brains not innocent animals. (robocop 3)
I had pet rats as a kid (30 years ago) This abuse (of any mammal, less criminals) disgust me.
Citation Please!!
It seems scientists are again sniffing the border of where we just shouldn't go. With cloning being a reality (although no human clones are publicly known to have been created) and the start of the CERN accelerator (which may instantly turn earth into a black hole, a not all that impossible result) we're clearly heading into areas where we just shouldn't mess about.