June 14, 2005 — A robot driven by a cockroch is helping put a biological twist into artificial intelligence.

In an unusual juxtaposition of art and technology, Garnet Hertz, a student at the University of California, Irvine, developed the "biorobotic" system to build on the fascination engineers have with cockroaches, which can maneuver swiftly over complex terrain and adapt to a variety of environmental conditions, even though they have no brains.

As scientists work to build cockroach-inspired robots, Hertz decided to incorporate the insect into the robot.

"The roach, from the perspective of robotics, is a loaded thing," said Hertz. "This is a little bit of a joke on that. Instead of taking the abstraction of a roach, it's using the roach in the system."

The mobile robot system consists of a three-wheeled electronic vehicle and an eight-centimeter-long Giant Madagascan Hissing Cockroach.

The insect drives the vehicle from atop a modified trackball, where it is held in place by a device attached to its back with a piece of Velco.

Electronics within the trackball engage motors that turn the vehicle's wheels. When the roach scurries to the left, the vehicle moves left; when the roach runs right, the vehicle turns right.

A semicircle of distance sensors with light-emitting diodes face the roach atop its trackball seat.

If the vehicle gets too close to a wall, a sensor illuminates a diode, which shines in the cockroach's face. When all goes well, the light startles the roach, which scampers away from the light and steers the vehicle out of collision's way.

But because roaches quickly adapt to their environment, the light doesn't always work.

"Sometimes the cockroach will drive it into the wall," said Hertz.

The proto-cyborg isn't perfect, but neither are computerized forms of artificial intelligence, said Hertz. While those systems can solve sophisticated mathematical problems, he said, they are not very good at addressing common-sense tasks, such as crossing a street.

Exploring that problem from a biological standpoint makes sense to Hertz.

"Artificial intelligence doesn't necessarily involve complicated computer algorithms, but could involve this kind of hybridization," said Mark Allen, a professor of visual arts at Pomona College in Claremont, California, and the executive director of the Machine Project art gallery in Los Angeles.

Hertz said he will be looking at ways to improve the cockroach's performance by creating an immersive environment that encourages the insect to respond consistently to stimuli.