DRDO scientists working on ‘rat cyborgs’ for security forces' intelligence surveillance

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is developing “rat cyborgs” to help in security forces' recovery operations and intelligence surveillance, according to an official.

A team of the Young Scientist Laboratory from DRDO is working on it. The rat cyborgs will have cameras on their heads and electronic commands will be used to guide them using semi-invasive brain electrodes, said DRDO’s Young Scientist Laboratory (DYSL-AT) Director, P Shiva Prasad, after the World Science Congress' session.

“This is the first time India had engaged in developing such technology. Some foreign nations already have it. It will help armed forces in Intelligence Surveillance and Recovery (ISR) operations. Phase 1 trials, in which the rat will be controlled through commands of the operator, are underway,” Prasad said.

“In Phase 2, scientists can actually feed images into the camera mounted on the head for the rat cyborg to find. An example of its use could be a situation like the 26/11 terror attack in which more than 200 rooms of a hotel had to be searched,” he added.

He described that remote-controlled robots, which engage in ISR operations, face manoeuvrability issues like entering narrow spaces and climbing walls. Further adding to it he said that rats have more endurance for such tasks and scientists know how to encourage them by offering incentives based on food for missions.

“In Phase 1, the electrodes will need to be implanted in the brain of the rats, while in Phase 2, we will go for wireless transmission. We have used three to four rats for the lab tests,” Prasad said.