One creepy crawler is giving researchers ideas for first response strategy.
Scientists at the University of California, Berkeley have built a cockroach robot prototype.
This small bot can squeeze through openings—and could eventually help provide vital information to first responders in the event of a disaster.
Researchers say their prototype was inspired by study findings that detailed the ability of American cockroaches to flatten themselves all the way down to a quarter of their height.
It’s thanks to their pliable shell, according to UC Berkeley scientists. Even squished, they can still run fast.
According to the university's website, the leader of the study found that these insects can withstand forces 900 times their body weight.
The prototype is called CRAM. It stands for Compressible Robot with Articulated Mechanisms. Modeled after the "beloved" insect, the bot can be flattened and even use different parts of its legs to run if in a confined space.
