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Robotic bugs mingle with cockroaches (able to blend into cockroach society)
AP on Yahoo ^ | 11/16/07 | Randolph E. Schmid - ap

Posted on 11/16/2007 8:54:32 PM PST by NormsRevenge

WASHINGTON - Tiny robots programmed to act like roaches were able to blend into cockroach society, according to researchers studying the collective behavior of insects. Cockroaches tend to self-organize into leaderless groups, seeming to reach consensus on where to rest together.

For example, when provided two similar shelters, most of the group tended to gather under the same one.

Hoping to learn more about this behavior, researchers led by Jose Halloy at the Free University of Brussels, Belgium, designed small robots programmed to act like a cockroach.

The robots didn't look like the insects and at first the roaches fled from them, but after the scientists coated the robots with pheromones that made them smell like roaches the machines were accepted into the group, nesting together with the insects.

Given a choice, roaches generally prefer a darker place and the robots were programmed to do the same.

When given a choice of a darker or lighter shelter, 75 percent of the cockroaches and 85 percent of the robots gathered under the darker one.

Then, to see if the robots had really become part of society and could influence group decisions, Halloy and colleagues programmed them to prefer shelters with more light.

The result, the lighter shelter was preferred by the mixed group 61 percent of the time, while the cockroaches alone picked it just 27 percent of the time.

On the other hand, in 39 percent of cases the robots, despite being programmed to prefer a lighter shelter, joined the cockroaches under the darker one.

The findings were reported in Friday's issue of the journal Science.


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: bugs; cockroaches; mingle; robotic
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To: Jeff Chandler

the one on the far left, of course.


21 posted on 11/16/2007 9:19:04 PM PST by LexBaird (Behold, thou hast drinken of the Aide of Kool, and are lost unto Men.)
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To: NormsRevenge

22 posted on 11/16/2007 9:19:54 PM PST by M203M4 (Rudy Giuliani 2008 - finally get all of the government you are paying for!)
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To: MaxMax
Roaches are crunchy.

Fantastic with lightly sautéed and served with marinara sauce and an oaky Merlot.

23 posted on 11/16/2007 9:21:02 PM PST by Pontiac (Your message here.)
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To: Enchante
So does this have implications for understanding Democrats?

Sure, For instance, they identify each other by their smell, and are easily fooled by robotic leaders.

24 posted on 11/16/2007 9:21:40 PM PST by LexBaird (Behold, thou hast drinken of the Aide of Kool, and are lost unto Men.)
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To: zot
in 39 percent of cases the robots, despite being programmed to prefer a lighter shelter, joined the cockroaches under the darker one.

Not so strange. The robots had some variability programmed in. First followers, then some leadership 'preferences' but still cohesive with the group.

25 posted on 11/16/2007 9:27:20 PM PST by DJtex
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To: KarlInOhio

Exactly!


26 posted on 11/16/2007 9:30:58 PM PST by skr (How majestic is Thy Name, O Lord, and how mighty are Thy Works!)
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To: KarlInOhio
"The roach armies are now developing robots which they will use to infiltrate us."

I for one welcome our new roach masters.......

27 posted on 11/16/2007 9:51:53 PM PST by joebuck
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To: joebuck

Hail, Roaches!


28 posted on 11/16/2007 9:57:21 PM PST by Arthur McGowan
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To: rabscuttle385

Maybe some Demagogues are cockroaches, some are bedbugs, some are malarial mosquitos, and some are headlice.....


29 posted on 11/16/2007 10:01:38 PM PST by Enchante (Democrat terror-fighting motto: "BLEAT - CHEAT - RETREAT - DEFEAT")
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To: zot

Good enough place to bump this thread and I like your freepname.


30 posted on 11/16/2007 10:41:35 PM PST by Kevmo (We should withdraw from Iraq — via Tehran. And Duncan Hunter is just the man to get that job done.)
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To: NormsRevenge
"On the other hand, in 39 percent of cases the robots, despite being programmed to prefer a lighter shelter, joined the cockroaches under the darker one."

The Bug in the Machine.

31 posted on 11/17/2007 4:09:26 AM PST by 668 - Neighbor of the Beast (Call me a pro-life zealot with a 1-track mind.)
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To: NormsRevenge
Tiny robots programmed to act like roaches congressmen were able to blend into cockroach Capitol Hill society, according to researchers studying the collective behavior of insects politicians. Cockroaches Congressmen tend to self-organize into leaderless groups, seeming to reach consensus on where to rest together how to spend on pork projects and raise taxes.
32 posted on 11/17/2007 4:51:58 AM PST by Caramelgal (Rely on the spirit and meaning of the teachings, not on the words or superficial interpretations)
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To: All

This perfectly explains how Democrats reach a consensus without actually having to conspire. They all migrate towards the dark side. Its really simple.


33 posted on 11/17/2007 4:59:22 AM PST by Hunterite
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To: Caramelgal

Caramelgal, to quote Larry the Cable Guy, “I don’t care where you’re from, that’s funny right there!”


34 posted on 11/17/2007 4:59:22 AM PST by senorita
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To: Hunterite
They all migrate towards the dark side.

Let's just hope they don't have the same evolutionary resilience.

-Joan

35 posted on 11/17/2007 5:03:00 AM PST by JoanVarga (Primordial Slack)
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To: NormsRevenge; Lijahsbubbe; aculeus; dighton; martin_fierro

"But don't you go falling in love with it now, 'cause we're taking it with us when we leave here next month." ~ Cousin Eddie

36 posted on 11/17/2007 5:31:38 AM PST by Thinkin' Gal
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To: NormsRevenge
“And what did you do at work today dear?”

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”

37 posted on 11/17/2007 5:41:13 AM PST by Ditter
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To: NormsRevenge

I wonder how this remarkable research would apply in infiltrating Al qaeda...what pheromone would work in that setting.


38 posted on 11/17/2007 11:47:31 AM PST by eleni121 (+ En Touto Nika! By this sign conquer! + Constantine the Great)
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To: eleni121

goat s—t.


39 posted on 11/18/2007 1:19:09 AM PST by Captainpaintball
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