[http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/09/cyborginsects.jpg](http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/01/darpa-harvests-energy-from-cyborg-beetles-to-keep-them-brainwash/)
Beetles packing [cybernetic implants](http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/29/cyborg-beetles-commandeered-for-test-flight-laser-beams-not-ye/) that control their brains make a cheaper and more useful micro-air-vehicle than a [fully robotic one](http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/18/darpa-funded-nano-hummingbird-spybot-takes-flight-video/) -- but due to the weight of the battery packs required, development has been slow. Now a [DARPA-funded](http://www.engadget.com/tag/darpa) team at the [University of Michigan](http://www.engadget.com/tag/university+of+michigan/) thinks it's eliminated that problem. By attaching piezoelectric generators to each wing, the researchers can harvest the energy generated in flight and use it to juice the mind-control circuits. At present, the system generates about half the energy the team thinks it can produce, as innovations in ceramic production of the miniature devices *should* solve that. An experimental robotics project in competition with a cyborg one? This all feels a bit too [RoboCop](http://www.engadget.com/tag/RoboCop/) for us.
DARPA harvests energy from cyborg beetles to keep them brainwashed originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 19:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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