真假难辨的机器小强
by chinarobot
法国、比利时和瑞士的科学家们已经成功研制成功了一种机器蟑螂，可以让真的蟑螂不能辨别真假，把它当同类来对待。这个机器人叫做InsBot。科学家们相信，在不久的将来，为类可以使用这种机器人渗透进蟑螂的群体中去，警告小强们注意自己的行为。
最初，图卢兹[法国南部城市]的一个动物认知研究中心着手研究蟑螂的行为。一个学生花了三年的时间观察了蟑螂行动，并将其拍摄下来，并用电脑建模，重现蟑螂的运动。研究发现，蟑螂同蚂蚁一样，是一种彼此间平等的昆虫，他们的群体没有一个领导。他们因为一种群体的智慧而聚集在一起。"蟑螂们希望与同类接触，当它们碰面时，它们会很安静，并且非常乐意交很多的交小强朋友。朋友越多，它们待的时间也会越长。"该计划的Jean-Louis Deneubourg.说。
然后，一个叫做Leurre的计划开始实施，这个计划要花费大约３３０万美元。Leurre的目的是制造一个机器人，要求它能够检测到蟑螂，并能像蟑螂一样运动。他们成功制造出来了，这个机器人就是InsBot。这是一个绿色的，和火柴盒般大小，装备有位于洛桑的瑞士联邦工艺学校研制的激光传感器。当InsBot碰到一只蟑螂时，它能和真的蟑螂一般运动。它会安静下来，蟑螂越多，它了就能安静的待的时间就越长。
最后，由布列塔尼(半岛)[法国西北部一地区]的一个科学研究中心研究出一种类似蟑螂体味的物质，并将其喷到InsBot上，使其带有蟑螂的气味。
科学家们相信，这种技术也可以利用在其他的生物控制领域。比如可以制造出一个机器人绵羊来管理羊群。
Robots to rid us of cockroaches
Adam Sage
IT behaves like a cockroach. It smells like a cockroach. It is accepted by other cockroaches.
But it is not a cockroach. It is a robot and scientists say its invention is a breakthrough in mankind's struggle to control the animal kingdom.
The robot, InsBot, developed by researchers in France, Belgium and Switzerland, is capable of infiltrating a group of cockroaches, influencing them and altering their behaviour.
Within a decade, its inventors believe, it will be leading the unwanted pests out of dark kitchen corners, to where they can be eliminated.
But this is only the first of the applications for a pioneering program that has scientists dreaming out loud.
They say they will soon be using robots to stop sheep jumping off cliffs and to encourage chickens to take exercise.
The initial task, carried out by the Centre for Research on the Cognition of Animals in Toulouse, France, was to analyse cockroach behaviour. A student spent three years filming the insects and making a computer program that reproduced their movements. The study showed that cockroaches, like ants, are egalitarian creatures, without a group leader. They congregate as a result of a "collective intelligence" that depends upon interaction within the group.
"Cockroaches like contact with each other. When they meet, they stay still. They are happy to be with a friend for a few moments. The more friends around them, the longer they stay," said project co-ordinator Jean-Louis Deneubourg.
The second stage of the E2 million ($3.3 million) program, called Leurre, was to build a robot capable of detecting cockroaches, of moving like them and of becoming inactive in the dark.
InsBot, which is green, the size of a matchbox and equipped with lasers and a light sensor, was developed by Switzerland's Federal Polytechnic School in Lausanne. When it bumps into a cockroach, it does what they do: it stops moving. The more cockroaches that approach it, the longer it remains stationary.
The third stage, undertaken by the French Centre for Scientific Research in Brittany, was to isolate the molecules that give cockroaches their smell -- to create a cockroach perfume -- and to spray it on the robot.
Early next year Professor Deneubourg hopes to publish findings that demonstrate InsBot's capacity to modify its friends' behaviour.
His experiments place cockroaches in a space that contains two shelters -- one dark, one light. Naturally, they gather in the dark shelter, where they feel comfortable. But if the robots go to the light shelter, cockroaches follow -- the desire for companionship proving stronger than the need for dark.
"It is plausible and realistic to imagine that in five or 10 years time, people with a cockroach infestation will be buying robots to get rid of them," Professor Deneubourg said.
Other applications are also envisaged for the computer programs developed under the Leurre project. Guy Theraulaz, CRCA director of research, said it may be possible to build chicken-like robots that will be used to stimulate poultry.
"A lot of chickens don't move at all and die as a result. They need to be encouraged to run around. Robots could do that," he said.
Another area of research involves sheep. In mountainous regions when one sheep jumps off a cliff to escape a predator, the others tend to follow -- with the result that the whole flock dies. Dr Theraulaz believes his team will soon be able to identify flock leaders and give them collars equipped with receivers. They will then train these sheep to stand still -- or move -- when the receivers emit a signal such as a sound or an electric shock.