National Society of Black Engineers

RoboRoach: Nueroscience For Everyone

NSBE: SNEATP PROPRIETARY

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CONTENT

•Company

•Project

•Technical Specs

•Application

•Discussion

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BACKYARD BRAINS

Founders: Greg Gage and Tim Marzullo

Background: 20% of the world will have neurological disorder.

No cure.

Goal: To spur a “neuro-revolution” by inspiring more students to join the field

Method: Teach students about neuroscience via hands own projects.

Nueroscience Home Projects

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PROJECT OVERVIEW

•The RoboRoach is an educational DIY cockroach cyborg kit.

•Purchase Kit for $99

•Live Cockroaches shipped

•Learn to use Microeletronic hardware and surgical kits

•Circuit boards and wireless receivers/ transmitters

•Creates Electrical impulses that control roach

•Can be controlled by phone

RoboRoach for students as young as 10 yrs old

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PROJECT OVERVIEW

Kingdom Animalia, phylum Anthropoda, class Insecta, order Blattodea, family Blaberidae, genus Blaberus, and species Discoidalis.

•Discoid cockroaches.

•Available in the U.S, bred as feeder insects for pet reptiles and amphibians.

•Slower than native US

Cockroaches have neurons similar to humans

•1 million neurons (roaches) vs 100 billion (humans)

•Decentralized nervous system, with ganglia (small brains) running down its body.

•“Bigger” ganglion in its head, which can be considered a brain.

RoboRoach for students as young as 10 yrs old

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ROBOROACH KIT

1x Free iOS or Android 4.3+ application for remote control

1x Bluetooth Roboroach backpack control unit

1x 1632 RoboRoach Battery

3x Electrode Sets (to implant 3 Roaches)

Technical Specs

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QUICK PREP CHECKLIST

•Douse the insect in ice water to “anesthetize” it

•Sand a patch of shell

•Helps superglue and electrodes stick

•Insert a groundwire into the insect’s thorax

•Trim the insect’s antennae

•Insert silver electrodes

Directed use Ice Water to anesthetize roach

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STEPS IN PRETTY PICTURESHes injured; Give him a robotic body stat!

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HOW IT WORKSElectrical spikes stimulate sensory impulses

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VIDEO EXAMPLES

Phone Control

http://youtu.be/ZwvG69ICnps

Walk the Line

http://youtu.be/I6xC-gieGSI

Surgery

http://youtu.be/EsrorUT_Svc

RoboRoach in Action

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APPLICATIONS

Researchers from North Carolina State University

•Developed software to map unknown environments

•Based on the movement of a swarm of insect cyborgs or “biobots

• GPS Algorithm

-Collapsed buildings

- Caves

Biobots for Topography

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APPLICATIONS

Public safety officials

•Location of radioactive or chemical threats

•Provide relevant sensors

•Improved assessment of area

•Expedited analysis

•Random Movements in favor

Radio active Threats

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ADDTL EXAMPLES

•Nervous system of a moth [watch video].

•Control of the flight of a giant beetle [watch video]

•Microstimulation of cockroach sensory nerves to develop a “Kinetic-base System for Autonomous Control of Terrestrial Insect Biobots” [watch video].

Different Swarms

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ETHICAL CONCERNSWhat do you think?

Criticism: “Animal Experiments have no place in educational demonstrations.”

Criticism: “There are better ways of teaching neuroscience that do not use animals.“

Criticism: “You are causing pain in the animals and that is inhumane."

Criticism: “You are objectifying the cockroach."

Criticism: This enables and encourages kids to harm animals.