Israeli study offers hope of rewiring nerves to restore lost sense of touch timesofisrael.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from timesofisrael.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Nathan Jeffay is The Times of Israel s health and science correspondent
Part of the Tel Aviv University robot fitted with a locust ear, with the ear visible (courtesy of Tel Aviv University)
Israeli scientists have successfully wired a locust ear into a robot, and say the breakthrough could pave the way for animal parts to become the microphones and cameras of the future.
The robot at Tel Aviv University “listens” to sounds around it using the ear of a dead locust. Upon hearing one clap it moves forward; upon hearing two claps in quick succession it moves backward.
Researchers behind the breakthrough say it is the first time a sense organ has been integrated into electronics, and therefore a “proof of concept” that shows that the full sensory capacity of animal parts noses, eyes, ears and touch sensors can be harnessed and information they gather fed to machines.