CNN News:蟑螂——生物机器人

Some scientists are hoping to turn roaches into rescuers. The research involves controlling Madagascar hissing cockroaches. And there are some ethical concerns with this.

一些科学们希望将蟑螂变成救生员。这项研究需要控制马达加斯加嘶嘶叫的蟑螂。同时还有一些道德问题。

Is it right to manipulate animals with a radio transmitter?

用无线发射器操控动物，这样做正确吗?

Couldn`t people just build tiny robots instead?

难道人类不能建造机器人来替代这种做法吗?

Scientists say living roaches come with their own power supply.

而科学家们说这些活着的蟑螂能自己提供能量补给。

Is it cruel?

这样做残忍吗?

Some critics fear this could hurt the roaches or electrocute them.

一些评论人士担心这样做会伤害到蟑螂或者会电死它们。

Researchers say the roaches would simply run away if they were zapped. These go where the signals tell them to.

而研究人员称在遇到攻击时，它们只需要快速逃跑。它们会去信号指示的地方。

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Finding survivors under the rubble is a top priority in the desperate hours after a disaster. Search dogs can`t go into every crack and crevice, but roaches can.

男：灾难过后在碎石中寻找幸存者是首要的任务。但是搜救犬不能到达所有的裂缝或缝隙，但是蟑螂可以。

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You might not think of roaches as the hero type. But researchers at North Carolina State University are hoping they will be. They call them bio-bots. Scientists have strapped tiny backpacks onto cockroaches that manipulate their neural systems so they can steer them into small, dark spaces or guide them through a maze. The backpacks contain tracking gear and tiny microphones that pick up sounds of trapped victims` cries for help, alerting rescuers to their locations.

男：可能你不会认为蟑螂是英雄，但是北卡州立大学的研究者们却是这样希望的。他们把蟑螂称为生物机器人。科学家们在蟑螂的背上系上小背包。这种背包可以操纵蟑螂的神经系统，这样科学家们就可以指挥它们进入狭小、黑暗的空间或者指导它们穿过迷宫。背包里面装有跟踪定位设备以及可以接收被困者求救声、警示蟑螂自身位置的话筒。

Listen to this actual recording captured by a micced (ph) cockroach and transmitted around a corner to a receiver 16 meters away.

听一下这个录音。这个录音是一个安装了麦克风的蟑螂捕捉的，然后传输给了在一个接收器。接收器位于16米远的角落里。

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One, two, three.

男：1,2,3。

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Theoretically, rescuers could control the roaches by using apps on their smart phones.

男：理论上讲，救生员可以利用智能手机上的应用程序控制这些蟑螂。

What`s next?

下一步怎么做呢?

Eventually, the bio-bots could be mounted with tiny cameras, or infrared sensors that can detect heat, another way to find people trapped under debris.

最后，这些生物机器人会安装上微型摄像机以及可以探测热量的红外传感器，这是在废墟中寻找被困者的另一种方法。

If this technology proves successful, first responders may some day arrive on the scene with a box of cockroaches wearing backpacks. Smart bio-bots that could save lives.

如果这项技术取得成功，未来的某一天，首批的使用者会携带一盒背着背包的蟑螂到达现场。这种智能的生物机器人就可以拯救生命了。