Creepy Cockroaches Could Be Search And Rescue Heroes

John Hopton for redOrbit.com – Your Universe Online

Researchers from North Carolina State University (NCSU) have found a way to turn cockroaches into cyborgs and have them assist in search and rescue operations after major disasters. By wearing special backpacks, the “biobots” can detect and locate sound, as well as differentiating between important and unimportant sounds.

The scientists came up with two innovations, both of which involve electronic backpacks which are equipped with microphones. One has a single microphone that can capture relatively high-resolution sound from any direction which can then be wirelessly transmitted to first responders. The other involves an array of three-directional microphones which can detect the direction of the sound. The team also developed algorithms that can analyze sound from the microphone array to focus the source and steer the biobot in the right direction.

The microphone array system worked successfully in laboratory testing, as shown in a video below.

Read more at

Canine 2.0: Dogs in High-Tech Gear Could Aid Search-and-Rescue Efforts

By Tanya Lewis, Staff Writer | May 05, 2014 08:00am ET

High-tech-equipped dogs could be deployed as a fleet of roving sensors in a disaster zone to locate victims quickly and easily while relaying data about environmental hazards and other information in real time, scientists say.

Researchers are developing sophisticated harnesses forrescue dogs that aid in disaster relief and recovery. The vests are equipped with sensors and communication devices to help rescue teams leverage the dogs as part of a coordinated response.

After a disaster in a populated urban area, rescue teams must race to find and rescue people trapped in the rubble. Although well-trained search-and-rescue dog-and-handler teams are becoming increasingly critical to locating trapped survivors, they are still relatively rare, the researchers said.

Read more

Bell The Chihuahua Finds 2 Girls Lost In Georgia Forest

NEWNAN, Ga. -- A Chihuahua is being hailed as a hero after authorities say it sniffed out two girls who were lost in a Georgia forest.

The girls, ages 5 and 8, disappeared Monday for a couple of hours when they were walking on trails near their neighborhood about 30 miles southwest of Atlanta. As police and firefighters began to search for the girls, neighbor Carvin Young grabbed his 3-year-old Chihuahua and joined the search.

Rebecca Parga, the girls' mother, says her children play with Bell almost every day, and the dog is very familiar with them.

The girls, Carlie and Lacey, were scared when they were found but were not hurt.

Video:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/02/chihuahua-finds-2-girls-l_0_n_1735730.html?utm_hp_ref=weird-news