HOW TO – Raising cockroaches (intentionally)

Leevonk shows you how to make a nice habitat for raising cockroaches – “…simple instructions on how to make a happy habitat for cockroaches to thrive. Taking a look around my kitchen, it seems that a lack of work is involved in this task. This is pretty much true. But in case anyone wants to be sure of how to make a good habitat, this is how.” – Link.

Why would you want to do this? See the previous project of course…

Cockroach Control System (via psychological manipulation) – Link.

Allows a microcomputer (e.g. basic stamp) to autonomously control a cockroach’s direction of movement. You could also make a remote control system. The basic stamp sends TTL signals to a uLN2803 chip which amplifies the current enough to contract a nitinol (shape memory alloy) strand. The contracting nitinol strand flips open one of two flaps which hang on either side of the cockroach’s antennae. This creates an illusion for the cockroach of –

• “hallway”,
• “wall left, open right”, and
• “wall right, open left”

…which in turn controls the cockroaches movement (it’s not going to move left if it feels a ‘wall’ on the left).

Related:

• Make a robot to hang out with roaches… – Link.
• Fish piloted vehicle – Link.
• Cyborg Roach-Man – Link.
• Insect Inside – Garnet Herz’s cockroach-controlled robot – MAKE 02 – Page 16.