Tag Archives: cockroach

Scientists Remotely Control Cockroaches with a Solar Powered Backpack

Posted on by

An international team of mad scientists at Japan’s RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering Research (CPR) has created cyborg cockroaches capable of being steered remotely by humans. And not only that but each cockroach is outfitted with a solar-charging backpack and lithium polymer battery to provide it with all the power it needs to consistently power its steering capabilities. This will end well. And by well, as usual, I mean badly.

The cyborg cockroaches are controlled via minute electrical impulses to either the left or right side of the abdomen (administered via wireless button press by a human), which causes them to turn in that direction. That’s cool, but don’t even think about steering them in the direction of my kitchen.

The scientists imagine the cyborg roaches being used for worthy causes like search-and-rescue missions, although I have the sneaking suspicion they’ll also be used for unworthy causes, like crawling up my pant leg with one of my friends at the controls.

[via TechEBlog]

HAMR Jr. Is a Tiny Robot Insect Less Than an Inch Long

Posted on by

As the miniaturization of electronic and electromechanical components continues to improve, so does the ability for engineers to create tiny robots. I recently came across this miniature robot that’s roughly the width of a U.S. penny, but is capable of relatively complex movements.

Researchers at Harvard’s John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences along with the Wyss Institute for Biologically-inspired Engineering developed the HAMR-Jr, a robotic little dude that can easily fit in the palm of your hand – and tickle it while it skitters about.

The quadrupedal microrobot measures just 2.25 cm long – or about 0.88 inches, and weighs only 320 mg. Despite its size, it has eight degrees of freedom, each of which can be actuated independently using piezoelectric components. When electricity is applied to its parts, they vibrate, and when used in the proper combination, they allow the robot to walk, run, leap, and turn. This guy is also crazy fast, capable of traversing a distance 13.9 times its body length in just a second.

Thanks to its pop-up style MEMS assembly process, the design of the HAMR platform makes it possible to build versions of the robot in a variety of sizes, without major changes to its fabrication. In fact, the team had previously built a cockroach-sized version of the robot, which you can see in the image and video above for size comparison. In theory, this technique could be used to produce robots for all kinds of uses, from medical to industrial applications

[via designboom]

This Giant Cockroach Plush Toy Is Delightfully Disgusting

Posted on by

Despite what the images here tell you, cockroaches are not cute, nor cuddly, and certainly not adorable. They are not your friends. They are meant to be squashed under foot sprayed with Raid and sent to Roach Motels, not hugged and squeezed with love. They are a natural enemy to humans and all other forms of life. So why is this store in Thailand selling plush toys of giant roaches? To further their cockroach agenda, that’s why. Clearly the guy running the place is the giant insect from Men in Black.

“Peter the Cockroach” is very realistic. Meaning that it is terrifying and disgusting. This plush roach is anatomically correct too, with the antenna, nasty spiky legs, wings and all the rest. Buy this thing at your own risk. It’s sure to attract other real cockroaches because they think this is their giant queen. It looks disgusting, but when you get down to it, this is just a regular plush toy. It may look soft, but you should still never hug this thing.

If you want to creep your friends out, you can find this bizarre toy at a store called Mheemeekhong for about $27(USD). Can you imagine a whole store full of these nasty creatures? I bet they go through a lot of employees because they get attacked on the night shift.

[via Lost At E Minor via Mike Shouts]

More Awesome Stuff for You to Click On:

You Can Build Your Own Creepy Robot Centipede
2001: A Space Odyssey Plush Dave Bowman: My God It’s Full of Stuffing
Star Wars Plush Bouquet 3.0: The Force of Love Awakens
Sideshow Collectibles Batwoman Statue: Red & Black Cost a Lot of Green
Alien Facehugger Prop Replica Is Supremely Nasty

ICYMI: Another thing likely to survive with the cockroaches

Posted on by
Today on In Case You Missed It: Scientists just mapped the DNA of a microscopic organism that can survive both oxygenless places and the Antarctic. Researchers believe they might help humans survive too much radiation, which is a thing we'll prob...

Bug Out with This Giant Inflatable Cockroach Pool Float

Posted on by

If you’re a sexy woman who enjoys lazing around in the pool, you want this giant inflatable cockroach. According to the images here, the ladies love to lounge around on a giant cockroach. Kids too, but gals in bikinis really seem to love it. Way too much. Cockroach tease.

cockroach_pool_float_3zoom in

cockroach_pool_float_2zoom in

You might as well embrace it now, because after the apocalypse we’ll all be riding cockroaches like slow jetskis and have cockroach highways. Those of us who survive anyway.

cockroach_pool_float_1zoom in

Just remember, you put one of these in the pool and before you know it, you’re infested. Which is fine, if these things really do attract the bikinied ladies. But if not, then you just have a pool full of cockroaches. If you want to chance it, you can get one from Amazon.

cockroach_pool_float_5zoom in

[via Bored Panda via Laughing Squid]

ICYMI: Cockroach torture, an app for Parkinson’s and more

Posted on by
Today on In Case You Missed It: A cybernetic cockroach how-to describes how to use an Arduino to control where a cockroach goes, which makes all of us uncomfortable.

Giant Cockroach Pool Float

Posted on by

cockroach pool float in action Giant Cockroach Pool Float
No need to get out the pool skimmer for this bug, you can relax on top of it. The Giant 6 foot Cockroach Swimming Pool and Beach Float Giant Cockroach Pool Float is a huge inflatable roach. Somehow it’s more cute than gross, which is definitely a good thing when it comes to pool toys and bugs.
cockroach pool float Giant Cockroach Pool Float
It measures about 6 feet long and 40 inches wide and it has squiggly legs too. Besides being used as a pool float, there are probably 1001 other instances when you’d want a giant inflatable insect. No we can’t think of any others off the top of our head either but there definitely are. Maybe as a decoration for the corner of a room next to a small girl and two pairs of shoes? Exactly what we were thinking too:
giant cockroach pool float Giant Cockroach Pool Float
You’ll definitely stand out at the beach or pool when you take the water aboard a floating cockroach. Real cockroaches actually can swim and even hold their breath for up to 40 minutes and they can live for 6 weeks without food and weeks without their head. Yes their head. But can they swim without their head? Fun facts, but not as fun as an inflatable one. (via)
buy now Giant Cockroach Pool Float

Giant Cockroach Pool Float
Check out our Craziest Gadgets Shop for unique gifts!

Giant Cockroach Pool Float: Kill It With Fire!

Posted on by

Everyone hates cockroaches, so if you want to clear the water fast and have the pool all to yourself, just put a cockroach in the pool. A giant cockroach pool float.

Giant Cockroach 620x516magnify


Others will run and scream, but you will have the pool all to yourself, relaxing on your giant nasty bug. You are the King Cockroach of the pool. Sure, you’ll feel itchy, because bugs are icky, but you are free to relax and take in the sun.

This super cool and creepy pool float is only $29.95(USD) from GiantCockroach.com. Put it in your “bug-out” bag and be ready for any body of water that is lacking a cockroach.

[via SUATMM via OhGizmo!]