Indian Scientists Develop ‘Rat Cyborgs’ For Intelligence Surveillance

The team of Indian scientists of DRDO are building ‘Rat Cyborgs’ for intelligence surveillance. It will be an electronic device with advanced functions.

As per reports, the Indian armed services may have remote-controlled rats crawling inside enemy strongholds to have a look before troops attack during an operation. 

Animal cyborgs are being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organization’s (DRDO) Asymmetric Technologies unit.

The initiative, which started more than a year ago, is currently in its second phase and the concept proof is already in place. 

This was discussed during a plenary session on defense during the 108th Indian Science Congress. 

The lecture was made by P Shiv Prasad, director of the DRDO Young Scientist Laboratory Asymmetric Technologies.

What Are Animal Cyborgs?

An animal cyborg is a living creature that has undergone surgical enhancement or has been fitted with electrical or mechanical components to give it specific extra skills.

These modifications could be made to improve the animal’s inherent skills or to enable it to carry out duties that it wouldn’t typically be able to.

Cyborg animals have been employed in research and real-world settings like the military, search and rescue, and rehabilitation.

Animal cyborgs have raised ethical issues for some animal rights activists, who worry that the alterations may subject the creatures to needless pain or rob them of their inherent skills.

Animal Cyborg Project & Research In India

In India, the first phase is finished. To regulate the mice’ movement at this stage, electrodes were surgically implanted. The plan is to attach it on something non-intrusive, like the head. 

The objective is to provide the animal with the best level of comfort. The presentation’s DRDO scientist, there may currently be some soreness following the surgery.

The technology causes the animals to turn, move forward, or halt by sending signals to their brains. 

In essence, when touched, these are pleasure centers in the nervous system that provide the animal some degree of remote control.