Remote Contol Pigeons

**Titus Atius Labienus** · February 27, 2007, 04:55 AM

Report discovered in Pravda.ru report:

Chinese scientists have succeeded in implanting electrodes in the brain of a pigeon to remotely control the bird's flight, state media said.

Reported in Pravda from XinHua News Agency piece.

Does this strike anyone else as an extremely interesting development? The ability to control animals through implants could have knock-on effects in all areas. Imagine a pet dog that is remote controlled, or spy pigeons!

How does this story strike you?

**Henry of Grosmont** · February 27, 2007, 05:13 AM

Originally Posted by Titus Atius Labienus

Report discovered in Pravda.ru report:

Chinese scientists have succeeded in implanting electrodes in the brain of a pigeon to remotely control the bird's flight, state media said.

Reported in Pravda from XinHua News Agency piece.

Does this strike anyone else as an extremely interesting development? The ability to control animals through implants could have knock-on effects in all areas. Imagine a pet dog that is remote controlled, or spy pigeons!

How does this story strike you?

I wish my dog had one.
Seriously, it's scary. Imagine humans that are remote controlled...

**Titus Atius Labienus** · February 27, 2007, 05:28 AM

I mean, thats one of the implications isnt it? If they can grow and ear, and possibly a liver on a mouse then who knows what's possible. For example, this article.

We certainly live in interesting times.

**Sidus Preclarum** · February 27, 2007, 05:56 AM

Pavda.ru sciences page.
nuff said.

**Titus Atius Labienus** · February 27, 2007, 06:08 AM

Undoubtedly, but doesnt the original source suggest more feasability than much of what Pravda churns out, as does this piece?

Also in the same line - robotic monkey arms..

These things undeniably happen, and i myself find them fascinating.

**Sidus Preclarum** · February 27, 2007, 06:15 AM

Well, I don't say it is impossible, but I'll wait to see it reported in a more credible news outlet and by another news agency...

**Simetrical** · February 27, 2007, 05:59 PM

I could have sworn I read about something somewhere reputable (like the New York Times) about being able to control cockroaches like this. Can't seem to find any mention now, though . . . maybe it was experimental and didn't work out, or something.

In principle, it should be easy to get this to work via conditioning. You can wire pleasure or pain directly into an animal's head, that's been done for decades. So then you just have to give them some kind of directions remotely, and train them that if they obey the directions they get pleasure, if they don't they get pain (or just lack of pleasure, if you want to be more humane). That kind of thing has been done on a regular basis in labs since at least Pavlov.

Anyway, moved from Thema Devia to Athenaeum.