Your emergency response workers may someday have some of their tasks done by replacements, and they won’t mind a bit. And you won’t mind because these workers won’t be on your payroll.
Researchers at North Carolina State University have been studying the movements of cockroaches, especially how they “wall follow”—find a break in a surface and continue along it.
Why? These roaches could replace first responders in entering emergency situations that are dangerous to humans, such as radioactive or chemical threats. Some roach species are large enough to carry electronic sensors or cameras into the situation, giving vital information to responders.
Researchers are studying mixing real roaches with look-alike cyborg roaches that can lead other roaches or robots in swarm patterns to map disaster areas.
But will they be exempt or nonexempt?