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‘Uncanny Valley’: Anthropic’s DOD Lawsuit, War Memes, and AI Coming for VC Jobs

‘Uncanny Valley’: Anthropic’s DOD Lawsuit, War Memes, and AI Coming for VC Jobs

Brian Barrett: The irony is my favorite part because I feel like venture capitalists have largely positioned themselves as immune to the effects of AI because they’re very special and surely a machine can—

Zoë Schiffer: It’s art, not science.

Brian Barrett: Yeah. It’s art, not science. Machines can take every job, but not us. The ladder stops just below VC for them in a way that is entertaining and fun. So I wonder how many people are actually using this now, especially because venture capitalists themselves are so skeptical of it, it seems like. Who’s the audience? Is it finding real traction out there?

Zoë Schiffer: Yeah. So the way that ADIN works is they have scouts that go out and look for potential deals, and then those scouts can make money on said deals. So I think this would be something where VCs wouldn’t necessarily be adopting the network, but people would be going around them, and they wouldn’t be as necessary, as useful. I think there was another great irony, which Arielle pulled out in her piece, which is that also, if you can start a company with just yourself and a bunch of AI agents, you’re vibe coding your way to success. Do you even need all of that venture capital money to begin with?

Leah Feiger: I don’t know. There’s so much to me, there’s so much fear about AI taking jobs. I feel like every other article that is like, “And these people are nervous, and these people are nervous.” Brian’s right, the part that is funny is these are the folks that have just gone all in on AI, but I’m still waiting. I’m still waiting for AI to take the jobs. Has it yet? Will it yet?

Zoë Schiffer: Yeah. I think that there’s recent research. I was talking to Will Knight, one of our fantastic AI reporters, about this yesterday, and he was saying, “Look, the evidence just isn’t there yet for many, many industries. The hype has, as it often does, gone way out ahead of the actual data here. We don’t know that AI is taking jobs.” But I will say, being in San Francisco, I am hearing a lot of people say engineering teams in particular are very bloated right now. Agents can actually do a lot of the work, and you definitely need humans on top managing those agents, but you could cut a lot of teams by 80 percent, 50 percent, 60 percent. And so I think that we are going to see more AI-related job loss, first in engineering and then in other sectors.

Brian Barrett: Marc Andreessen, famous venture capitalist, cofounder of Andreessen Horowitz, said this very thing in a recent podcast. Listen to how special he thinks his own profession is.

Marc Andreessen, archival audio: Every great venture capitalist in the last 70 years has missed most of the great companies of his generation. If it was a science, you could eventually have somebody who just dials it in and gets 8 out of 10, but in the real world, it’s not like that. It’s just you’re in the fluke business. And so there’s an intangibility to it. There’s a taste aspect, the human relationship aspect, the psychology. And I don’t want to be definitive, but it’s possible that that is quite literally timeless. And when the AIs are doing everything else, that may be one of the last remaining fields that people are still doing.

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#Uncanny #Valley #Anthropics #DOD #Lawsuit #War #Memes #Coming #Jobs

Garmin Forerunner 70 Features

The entry-level Forerunner 70 is designed for beginners who want a dedicated running watch without sacrificing advanced training tools. It features a 1.2-inch AMOLED display, offers up to 13 days of battery life in smartwatch mode, and tracks pace, distance, and wrist-based heart rate.

Despite being the most affordable model in the lineup, Garmin has included several premium metrics such as Running Power, Running Dynamics, Acute Load, Training Effect, and Recovery Time. The watch also supports over 80 sports modes, including cycling, swimming, yoga, strength training, and HIIT. Outside workouts, users can monitor sleep, stress levels, Body Battery energy, and receive the company’s Morning Report with a daily health summary.

Garmin Forerunner 70 and 170 Series Arrive in India With 13-Day Battery & AI Training Tools
	
Garmin has expanded its running smartwatch lineup in India with the launch of the new Forerunner 70, Forerunner 170, and Forerunner 170 Music. Aimed at everyone from first-time runners to marathon enthusiasts, the new wearables bring AMOLED displays, Garmin Coach training plans, built-in GPS, smart notifications, safety features, and access to the Garmin Connect ecosystem. They also include Garmin’s adaptive coaching tools, such as Garmin Coach, Training Readiness, Training Status, HRV Status, Recovery Time, and Daily Suggested Workouts, to help runners optimize both training and recovery.



Garmin Forerunner 70 Features



The entry-level Forerunner 70 is designed for beginners who want a dedicated running watch without sacrificing advanced training tools. It features a 1.2-inch AMOLED display, offers up to 13 days of battery life in smartwatch mode, and tracks pace, distance, and wrist-based heart rate.



Despite being the most affordable model in the lineup, Garmin has included several premium metrics such as Running Power, Running Dynamics, Acute Load, Training Effect, and Recovery Time. The watch also supports over 80 sports modes, including cycling, swimming, yoga, strength training, and HIIT. Outside workouts, users can monitor sleep, stress levels, Body Battery energy, and receive the company’s Morning Report with a daily health summary.











The Forerunner 170 and Forerunner 170 Music are designed for more serious runners seeking deeper performance insights. Both watches feature a 1.2-inch AMOLED display, a lightweight 43mm case, and up to 10 days of battery life. The duo builds upon the Forerunner 70 by offering more advanced recovery analysis and training metrics, including Running Dynamics, Running Power, Training Readiness, Training Status, HRV Status, and Acute Load.



Garmin has also included a full suite of health features like all-day heart rate monitoring, Sleep Coach, Body Battery, stress tracking, respiration monitoring, Morning Report, Evening Report, and women’s health tracking. Like the Forerunner 70, both models support more than 80 built-in sports profiles. The biggest difference between the two is that the Forerunner 170 Music lets users download playlists from supported music streaming services directly to the watch, enabling phone-free listening during workouts.



The Garmin Forerunner 70 is priced at ₹32,990 and goes on sale starting July 3. Meanwhile, the Forerunner 170 is priced at ₹39,490, while the Forerunner 170 Music costs ₹45,990. Both models will be available from July 4 through Garmin India’s website, Amazon, and authorized retail stores across the country.





#Garmin #Forerunner #Series #Arrive #India #13Day #Battery #Training #ToolsGarmin

The Forerunner 170 and Forerunner 170 Music are designed for more serious runners seeking deeper performance insights. Both watches feature a 1.2-inch AMOLED display, a lightweight 43mm case, and up to 10 days of battery life. The duo builds upon the Forerunner 70 by offering more advanced recovery analysis and training metrics, including Running Dynamics, Running Power, Training Readiness, Training Status, HRV Status, and Acute Load.

Garmin has also included a full suite of health features like all-day heart rate monitoring, Sleep Coach, Body Battery, stress tracking, respiration monitoring, Morning Report, Evening Report, and women’s health tracking. Like the Forerunner 70, both models support more than 80 built-in sports profiles. The biggest difference between the two is that the Forerunner 170 Music lets users download playlists from supported music streaming services directly to the watch, enabling phone-free listening during workouts.

The Garmin Forerunner 70 is priced at ₹32,990 and goes on sale starting July 3. Meanwhile, the Forerunner 170 is priced at ₹39,490, while the Forerunner 170 Music costs ₹45,990. Both models will be available from July 4 through Garmin India’s website, Amazon, and authorized retail stores across the country.

#Garmin #Forerunner #Series #Arrive #India #13Day #Battery #Training #ToolsGarmin">Garmin Forerunner 70 and 170 Series Arrive in India With 13-Day Battery & AI Training Tools
	
Garmin has expanded its running smartwatch lineup in India with the launch of the new Forerunner 70, Forerunner 170, and Forerunner 170 Music. Aimed at everyone from first-time runners to marathon enthusiasts, the new wearables bring AMOLED displays, Garmin Coach training plans, built-in GPS, smart notifications, safety features, and access to the Garmin Connect ecosystem. They also include Garmin’s adaptive coaching tools, such as Garmin Coach, Training Readiness, Training Status, HRV Status, Recovery Time, and Daily Suggested Workouts, to help runners optimize both training and recovery.



Garmin Forerunner 70 Features



The entry-level Forerunner 70 is designed for beginners who want a dedicated running watch without sacrificing advanced training tools. It features a 1.2-inch AMOLED display, offers up to 13 days of battery life in smartwatch mode, and tracks pace, distance, and wrist-based heart rate.



Despite being the most affordable model in the lineup, Garmin has included several premium metrics such as Running Power, Running Dynamics, Acute Load, Training Effect, and Recovery Time. The watch also supports over 80 sports modes, including cycling, swimming, yoga, strength training, and HIIT. Outside workouts, users can monitor sleep, stress levels, Body Battery energy, and receive the company’s Morning Report with a daily health summary.











The Forerunner 170 and Forerunner 170 Music are designed for more serious runners seeking deeper performance insights. Both watches feature a 1.2-inch AMOLED display, a lightweight 43mm case, and up to 10 days of battery life. The duo builds upon the Forerunner 70 by offering more advanced recovery analysis and training metrics, including Running Dynamics, Running Power, Training Readiness, Training Status, HRV Status, and Acute Load.



Garmin has also included a full suite of health features like all-day heart rate monitoring, Sleep Coach, Body Battery, stress tracking, respiration monitoring, Morning Report, Evening Report, and women’s health tracking. Like the Forerunner 70, both models support more than 80 built-in sports profiles. The biggest difference between the two is that the Forerunner 170 Music lets users download playlists from supported music streaming services directly to the watch, enabling phone-free listening during workouts.



The Garmin Forerunner 70 is priced at ₹32,990 and goes on sale starting July 3. Meanwhile, the Forerunner 170 is priced at ₹39,490, while the Forerunner 170 Music costs ₹45,990. Both models will be available from July 4 through Garmin India’s website, Amazon, and authorized retail stores across the country.





#Garmin #Forerunner #Series #Arrive #India #13Day #Battery #Training #ToolsGarmin

Forerunner 170 and Forerunner 170 Music are designed for more serious runners seeking deeper performance insights. Both watches feature a 1.2-inch AMOLED display, a lightweight 43mm case, and up to 10 days of battery life. The duo builds upon the Forerunner 70 by offering more advanced recovery analysis and training metrics, including Running Dynamics, Running Power, Training Readiness, Training Status, HRV Status, and Acute Load.

Garmin has also included a full suite of health features like all-day heart rate monitoring, Sleep Coach, Body Battery, stress tracking, respiration monitoring, Morning Report, Evening Report, and women’s health tracking. Like the Forerunner 70, both models support more than 80 built-in sports profiles. The biggest difference between the two is that the Forerunner 170 Music lets users download playlists from supported music streaming services directly to the watch, enabling phone-free listening during workouts.

The Garmin Forerunner 70 is priced at ₹32,990 and goes on sale starting July 3. Meanwhile, the Forerunner 170 is priced at ₹39,490, while the Forerunner 170 Music costs ₹45,990. Both models will be available from July 4 through Garmin India’s website, Amazon, and authorized retail stores across the country.

#Garmin #Forerunner #Series #Arrive #India #13Day #Battery #Training #ToolsGarmin">Garmin Forerunner 70 and 170 Series Arrive in India With 13-Day Battery & AI Training Tools

Garmin has expanded its running smartwatch lineup in India with the launch of the new Forerunner 70, Forerunner 170, and Forerunner 170 Music. Aimed at everyone from first-time runners to marathon enthusiasts, the new wearables bring AMOLED displays, Garmin Coach training plans, built-in GPS, smart notifications, safety features, and access to the Garmin Connect ecosystem. They also include Garmin’s adaptive coaching tools, such as Garmin Coach, Training Readiness, Training Status, HRV Status, Recovery Time, and Daily Suggested Workouts, to help runners optimize both training and recovery.

Garmin Forerunner 70 Features

The entry-level Forerunner 70 is designed for beginners who want a dedicated running watch without sacrificing advanced training tools. It features a 1.2-inch AMOLED display, offers up to 13 days of battery life in smartwatch mode, and tracks pace, distance, and wrist-based heart rate.

Despite being the most affordable model in the lineup, Garmin has included several premium metrics such as Running Power, Running Dynamics, Acute Load, Training Effect, and Recovery Time. The watch also supports over 80 sports modes, including cycling, swimming, yoga, strength training, and HIIT. Outside workouts, users can monitor sleep, stress levels, Body Battery energy, and receive the company’s Morning Report with a daily health summary.

Garmin Forerunner 70 and 170 Series Arrive in India With 13-Day Battery & AI Training Tools
	
Garmin has expanded its running smartwatch lineup in India with the launch of the new Forerunner 70, Forerunner 170, and Forerunner 170 Music. Aimed at everyone from first-time runners to marathon enthusiasts, the new wearables bring AMOLED displays, Garmin Coach training plans, built-in GPS, smart notifications, safety features, and access to the Garmin Connect ecosystem. They also include Garmin’s adaptive coaching tools, such as Garmin Coach, Training Readiness, Training Status, HRV Status, Recovery Time, and Daily Suggested Workouts, to help runners optimize both training and recovery.



Garmin Forerunner 70 Features



The entry-level Forerunner 70 is designed for beginners who want a dedicated running watch without sacrificing advanced training tools. It features a 1.2-inch AMOLED display, offers up to 13 days of battery life in smartwatch mode, and tracks pace, distance, and wrist-based heart rate.



Despite being the most affordable model in the lineup, Garmin has included several premium metrics such as Running Power, Running Dynamics, Acute Load, Training Effect, and Recovery Time. The watch also supports over 80 sports modes, including cycling, swimming, yoga, strength training, and HIIT. Outside workouts, users can monitor sleep, stress levels, Body Battery energy, and receive the company’s Morning Report with a daily health summary.











The Forerunner 170 and Forerunner 170 Music are designed for more serious runners seeking deeper performance insights. Both watches feature a 1.2-inch AMOLED display, a lightweight 43mm case, and up to 10 days of battery life. The duo builds upon the Forerunner 70 by offering more advanced recovery analysis and training metrics, including Running Dynamics, Running Power, Training Readiness, Training Status, HRV Status, and Acute Load.



Garmin has also included a full suite of health features like all-day heart rate monitoring, Sleep Coach, Body Battery, stress tracking, respiration monitoring, Morning Report, Evening Report, and women’s health tracking. Like the Forerunner 70, both models support more than 80 built-in sports profiles. The biggest difference between the two is that the Forerunner 170 Music lets users download playlists from supported music streaming services directly to the watch, enabling phone-free listening during workouts.



The Garmin Forerunner 70 is priced at ₹32,990 and goes on sale starting July 3. Meanwhile, the Forerunner 170 is priced at ₹39,490, while the Forerunner 170 Music costs ₹45,990. Both models will be available from July 4 through Garmin India’s website, Amazon, and authorized retail stores across the country.





#Garmin #Forerunner #Series #Arrive #India #13Day #Battery #Training #ToolsGarmin

The Forerunner 170 and Forerunner 170 Music are designed for more serious runners seeking deeper performance insights. Both watches feature a 1.2-inch AMOLED display, a lightweight 43mm case, and up to 10 days of battery life. The duo builds upon the Forerunner 70 by offering more advanced recovery analysis and training metrics, including Running Dynamics, Running Power, Training Readiness, Training Status, HRV Status, and Acute Load.

Garmin has also included a full suite of health features like all-day heart rate monitoring, Sleep Coach, Body Battery, stress tracking, respiration monitoring, Morning Report, Evening Report, and women’s health tracking. Like the Forerunner 70, both models support more than 80 built-in sports profiles. The biggest difference between the two is that the Forerunner 170 Music lets users download playlists from supported music streaming services directly to the watch, enabling phone-free listening during workouts.

The Garmin Forerunner 70 is priced at ₹32,990 and goes on sale starting July 3. Meanwhile, the Forerunner 170 is priced at ₹39,490, while the Forerunner 170 Music costs ₹45,990. Both models will be available from July 4 through Garmin India’s website, Amazon, and authorized retail stores across the country.

#Garmin #Forerunner #Series #Arrive #India #13Day #Battery #Training #ToolsGarmin

Scientists in Singapore and Japan have developed a tiny 3D-printed scuba suit for cyborg cockroaches, allowing them to survive and move underwater and other low-oxygen environments for up to three hours.

The suit can transform a regular cockroach, and potentially other insects, into “an amphibious cyborg robot capable of operation across land and water,” according to a new research paper published this week in Nature Communications. The study was conducted by scientists at Nanyang Technological University and Waseda University.

So, why do researchers want half-robot cockroaches to breathe underwater anyway?

Apparently, they hope to one day be able to use cyborg cockroaches in search and rescue missions, pipeline inspection, and other complex tasks. NTU Professor Hirotaka Sato, who led the study, has been working on cyborg insects for more than a decade. These hybrid robots combine living insects with electrodes that allow humans to remotely control their movements. Sato and his co-authors argue that this setup can make them more useful than traditional robots in some situations.

Unlike conventional robots, cyborg insects consume less energy because they use their own muscles to move. They are also small enough to move through confined and cluttered spaces that larger robots may not be able to reach.

These cyborgs have already been used in actual search-and-rescue operations, including Operation Lionheart after the 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar in March, according to NTU.

There is one obvious drawback, though. These tiny cyborgs still have biological limits. They need oxygen, which makes them much less useful underwater.

“This is important because real disaster sites can be challenging after heavy rain or flooding, blocking access routes in the rubble, drains and narrow gaps,” Sato said in a news release on the study. “By expanding the operating parameters of our cyborg insects to include underwater travel, we believe that they can enhance search and rescue efforts.”

The new scuba suit is meant to solve that problem.

How the suit works

Cockroaches breathe through small holes on their bodies known as spiracles. To protect those spiracles from water, the researchers made a flexible 3D-printed shell that wraps around the insect’s body. Four small tubes then attach to the cockroach’s spiracles and deliver oxygen directly to them.

Attached to the shell is an oxygen-generation tank that contains a small sponge soaked in manganese dioxide. To activate the system, the team injected diluted hydrogen peroxide into the tank, then sealed it with ultraviolet adhesive to prevent leaks.

The chemical reaction inside the tank slowly releases oxygen, which is then delivered through silicone tubes into the cockroach’s spiracles.

According to the study, the suit was tested on Madagascar hissing cockroaches in plastic tubes that simulated different environments.

Cyborg cockroaches equipped with the suit were able to move around underwater for two to three hours. Cockroaches in the control group suffocated within two minutes.

The team said this suit could potentially be adapted for other robot bugs like locusts and beetles, as these insects have similar body structures and respiratory systems.

#Researchers #Built #Scuba #Suit #Cyborg #CockroachesInsects,Robotics">Researchers Built a Scuba Suit for Cyborg Cockroaches
                Scientists in Singapore and Japan have developed a tiny 3D-printed scuba suit for cyborg cockroaches, allowing them to survive and move underwater and other low-oxygen environments for up to three hours. The suit can transform a regular cockroach, and potentially other insects, into “an amphibious cyborg robot capable of operation across land and water,” according to a new research paper published this week in Nature Communications. The study was conducted by scientists at Nanyang Technological University and Waseda University. So, why do researchers want half-robot cockroaches to breathe underwater anyway? Apparently, they hope to one day be able to use cyborg cockroaches in search and rescue missions, pipeline inspection, and other complex tasks. NTU Professor Hirotaka Sato, who led the study, has been working on cyborg insects for more than a decade. These hybrid robots combine living insects with electrodes that allow humans to remotely control their movements. Sato and his co-authors argue that this setup can make them more useful than traditional robots in some situations.

 Unlike conventional robots, cyborg insects consume less energy because they use their own muscles to move. They are also small enough to move through confined and cluttered spaces that larger robots may not be able to reach. These cyborgs have already been used in actual search-and-rescue operations, including Operation Lionheart after the 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar in March, according to NTU.

 There is one obvious drawback, though. These tiny cyborgs still have biological limits. They need oxygen, which makes them much less useful underwater. “This is important because real disaster sites can be challenging after heavy rain or flooding, blocking access routes in the rubble, drains and narrow gaps,” Sato said in a news release on the study. “By expanding the operating parameters of our cyborg insects to include underwater travel, we believe that they can enhance search and rescue efforts.”

 The new scuba suit is meant to solve that problem. How the suit works Cockroaches breathe through small holes on their bodies known as spiracles. To protect those spiracles from water, the researchers made a flexible 3D-printed shell that wraps around the insect’s body. Four small tubes then attach to the cockroach’s spiracles and deliver oxygen directly to them. Attached to the shell is an oxygen-generation tank that contains a small sponge soaked in manganese dioxide. To activate the system, the team injected diluted hydrogen peroxide into the tank, then sealed it with ultraviolet adhesive to prevent leaks. The chemical reaction inside the tank slowly releases oxygen, which is then delivered through silicone tubes into the cockroach’s spiracles.

 According to the study, the suit was tested on Madagascar hissing cockroaches in plastic tubes that simulated different environments. Cyborg cockroaches equipped with the suit were able to move around underwater for two to three hours. Cockroaches in the control group suffocated within two minutes. The team said this suit could potentially be adapted for other robot bugs like locusts and beetles, as these insects have similar body structures and respiratory systems.      #Researchers #Built #Scuba #Suit #Cyborg #CockroachesInsects,Robotics

research paper published this week in Nature Communications. The study was conducted by scientists at Nanyang Technological University and Waseda University.

So, why do researchers want half-robot cockroaches to breathe underwater anyway?

Apparently, they hope to one day be able to use cyborg cockroaches in search and rescue missions, pipeline inspection, and other complex tasks. NTU Professor Hirotaka Sato, who led the study, has been working on cyborg insects for more than a decade. These hybrid robots combine living insects with electrodes that allow humans to remotely control their movements. Sato and his co-authors argue that this setup can make them more useful than traditional robots in some situations.

Unlike conventional robots, cyborg insects consume less energy because they use their own muscles to move. They are also small enough to move through confined and cluttered spaces that larger robots may not be able to reach.

These cyborgs have already been used in actual search-and-rescue operations, including Operation Lionheart after the 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar in March, according to NTU.

There is one obvious drawback, though. These tiny cyborgs still have biological limits. They need oxygen, which makes them much less useful underwater.

“This is important because real disaster sites can be challenging after heavy rain or flooding, blocking access routes in the rubble, drains and narrow gaps,” Sato said in a news release on the study. “By expanding the operating parameters of our cyborg insects to include underwater travel, we believe that they can enhance search and rescue efforts.”

The new scuba suit is meant to solve that problem.

How the suit works

Cockroaches breathe through small holes on their bodies known as spiracles. To protect those spiracles from water, the researchers made a flexible 3D-printed shell that wraps around the insect’s body. Four small tubes then attach to the cockroach’s spiracles and deliver oxygen directly to them.

Attached to the shell is an oxygen-generation tank that contains a small sponge soaked in manganese dioxide. To activate the system, the team injected diluted hydrogen peroxide into the tank, then sealed it with ultraviolet adhesive to prevent leaks.

The chemical reaction inside the tank slowly releases oxygen, which is then delivered through silicone tubes into the cockroach’s spiracles.

According to the study, the suit was tested on Madagascar hissing cockroaches in plastic tubes that simulated different environments.

Cyborg cockroaches equipped with the suit were able to move around underwater for two to three hours. Cockroaches in the control group suffocated within two minutes.

The team said this suit could potentially be adapted for other robot bugs like locusts and beetles, as these insects have similar body structures and respiratory systems.

#Researchers #Built #Scuba #Suit #Cyborg #CockroachesInsects,Robotics">Researchers Built a Scuba Suit for Cyborg CockroachesResearchers Built a Scuba Suit for Cyborg Cockroaches
                Scientists in Singapore and Japan have developed a tiny 3D-printed scuba suit for cyborg cockroaches, allowing them to survive and move underwater and other low-oxygen environments for up to three hours. The suit can transform a regular cockroach, and potentially other insects, into “an amphibious cyborg robot capable of operation across land and water,” according to a new research paper published this week in Nature Communications. The study was conducted by scientists at Nanyang Technological University and Waseda University. So, why do researchers want half-robot cockroaches to breathe underwater anyway? Apparently, they hope to one day be able to use cyborg cockroaches in search and rescue missions, pipeline inspection, and other complex tasks. NTU Professor Hirotaka Sato, who led the study, has been working on cyborg insects for more than a decade. These hybrid robots combine living insects with electrodes that allow humans to remotely control their movements. Sato and his co-authors argue that this setup can make them more useful than traditional robots in some situations.

 Unlike conventional robots, cyborg insects consume less energy because they use their own muscles to move. They are also small enough to move through confined and cluttered spaces that larger robots may not be able to reach. These cyborgs have already been used in actual search-and-rescue operations, including Operation Lionheart after the 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar in March, according to NTU.

 There is one obvious drawback, though. These tiny cyborgs still have biological limits. They need oxygen, which makes them much less useful underwater. “This is important because real disaster sites can be challenging after heavy rain or flooding, blocking access routes in the rubble, drains and narrow gaps,” Sato said in a news release on the study. “By expanding the operating parameters of our cyborg insects to include underwater travel, we believe that they can enhance search and rescue efforts.”

 The new scuba suit is meant to solve that problem. How the suit works Cockroaches breathe through small holes on their bodies known as spiracles. To protect those spiracles from water, the researchers made a flexible 3D-printed shell that wraps around the insect’s body. Four small tubes then attach to the cockroach’s spiracles and deliver oxygen directly to them. Attached to the shell is an oxygen-generation tank that contains a small sponge soaked in manganese dioxide. To activate the system, the team injected diluted hydrogen peroxide into the tank, then sealed it with ultraviolet adhesive to prevent leaks. The chemical reaction inside the tank slowly releases oxygen, which is then delivered through silicone tubes into the cockroach’s spiracles.

 According to the study, the suit was tested on Madagascar hissing cockroaches in plastic tubes that simulated different environments. Cyborg cockroaches equipped with the suit were able to move around underwater for two to three hours. Cockroaches in the control group suffocated within two minutes. The team said this suit could potentially be adapted for other robot bugs like locusts and beetles, as these insects have similar body structures and respiratory systems.      #Researchers #Built #Scuba #Suit #Cyborg #CockroachesInsects,Robotics

Scientists in Singapore and Japan have developed a tiny 3D-printed scuba suit for cyborg cockroaches, allowing them to survive and move underwater and other low-oxygen environments for up to three hours.

The suit can transform a regular cockroach, and potentially other insects, into “an amphibious cyborg robot capable of operation across land and water,” according to a new research paper published this week in Nature Communications. The study was conducted by scientists at Nanyang Technological University and Waseda University.

So, why do researchers want half-robot cockroaches to breathe underwater anyway?

Apparently, they hope to one day be able to use cyborg cockroaches in search and rescue missions, pipeline inspection, and other complex tasks. NTU Professor Hirotaka Sato, who led the study, has been working on cyborg insects for more than a decade. These hybrid robots combine living insects with electrodes that allow humans to remotely control their movements. Sato and his co-authors argue that this setup can make them more useful than traditional robots in some situations.

Unlike conventional robots, cyborg insects consume less energy because they use their own muscles to move. They are also small enough to move through confined and cluttered spaces that larger robots may not be able to reach.

These cyborgs have already been used in actual search-and-rescue operations, including Operation Lionheart after the 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar in March, according to NTU.

There is one obvious drawback, though. These tiny cyborgs still have biological limits. They need oxygen, which makes them much less useful underwater.

“This is important because real disaster sites can be challenging after heavy rain or flooding, blocking access routes in the rubble, drains and narrow gaps,” Sato said in a news release on the study. “By expanding the operating parameters of our cyborg insects to include underwater travel, we believe that they can enhance search and rescue efforts.”

The new scuba suit is meant to solve that problem.

How the suit works

Cockroaches breathe through small holes on their bodies known as spiracles. To protect those spiracles from water, the researchers made a flexible 3D-printed shell that wraps around the insect’s body. Four small tubes then attach to the cockroach’s spiracles and deliver oxygen directly to them.

Attached to the shell is an oxygen-generation tank that contains a small sponge soaked in manganese dioxide. To activate the system, the team injected diluted hydrogen peroxide into the tank, then sealed it with ultraviolet adhesive to prevent leaks.

The chemical reaction inside the tank slowly releases oxygen, which is then delivered through silicone tubes into the cockroach’s spiracles.

According to the study, the suit was tested on Madagascar hissing cockroaches in plastic tubes that simulated different environments.

Cyborg cockroaches equipped with the suit were able to move around underwater for two to three hours. Cockroaches in the control group suffocated within two minutes.

The team said this suit could potentially be adapted for other robot bugs like locusts and beetles, as these insects have similar body structures and respiratory systems.

#Researchers #Built #Scuba #Suit #Cyborg #CockroachesInsects,Robotics

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