Moths Looking For Love Drive A Robot Exoskeleton
Moth Exoskeleton Have exo will ride. The University of TokyoScientists put moths in the driver's seat to learn about tracking odors autonomously. If Mothra saw this contraption there'd be some Japanese scientists on the lam. But since she's distracted, scientists strapped hapless male silkmoths into an drivable exoskeleton and lured the specter of nightmares through a maze with female moth love juice as the prize. We know moths fly and navigate well, but it turns out they're fleet of foot too. The moth exoskeleton is a glorified trackball, that is controlled by the legs of the moth running on a styrofoam ball. But it's a ride equipped with air conditioning -- dual fans blow towards the silkmoth antennae. Just to torture the moth some more, researchers partially jacked up the steering to make it a little harder. And then even with an additional wind thrown in the mix, the moths quickly navigated...