Don't stomp on these roaches. Researchers from the North Carolina State University outfitted some crawly critters with bionic, electronic backbacks that enable them to use cockroaches to help them gather information during search and rescue missions. They hope this will one day help them find survivors in earthquake ruins and other disaster areas and save more lives.

The electronic backpacks on the roaches were wired directly into their own sensory organs, making the cyborg roaches attracted to the faintest of noise. Researchers were even able to direct where to send the roaches via microphones attached to the backpacks, directing their movements like a remote control car.

The high-resolution, three directional microphones that are mounted on the cockroaches' backs will also be able to distinguish between the cries of a person calling for help trapped under debris, and sounds that can be ignored, like water dripping from a leaking pipe.

The researchers also said the technology will have a so-called invisible fence to prevent the live biobots from wandering away from rescue and research sites and will keep the roaches in close proximity to each other to sustain a reliable wireless network.

Dr. Alper Bozkurt, senior author of the paper and assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, said that their cyber-roaches may soon become the first responders at emergency sites.

"In a collapsed building, sound is the best way to find survivors ... Once we've identified sounds that matter, we can use the biobots equipped with microphone arrays to zero in on where those sounds are coming from," he said.

The work is still in its introductory stages, but the researchers hope to take great strides to combining and perfecting the technology so that the roach backpacks can be equipped and used on real roaches to save lives in emergency and disaster situations.

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