Method and apparatus for teleoperation, guidance and odor detection training of a freely roaming animal through brain stimulation

摘要

Electronic components, including a transceiver (220) for two-way wireless communications, are carried by a freely roaming animal (190) such as a rat. Electrodes are implanted in the brain of the animal to provide cues and rewards to the animal to achieved desired behaviors, including controlling the direction and speed of movement of the animal, and training the animal to recognize odors. Network interface components (265) allow a network of the animals to work together. Sensors (225, 230, 235, 245, 255, 260) carried by the animal provide information to a remote base station regarding, e.g., heading and location. Chemical or gas sensors, along with a video camera and a microphone provide information regarding an environment of the animal. The animal can search for people buried in rubble piles, and detect explosives, chemicals or other dangerous materials. A vehicle (500) for deploying the animal is also provided.

主权项

1. A network of freely roaming animals, comprising:
a plurality of network interface devices and associated transceivers; wherein each network interface device hosts a node of the network, and each network interface device and transceiver is carried by a respective one of the animals;the transceiver of a first of the animals receives a wireless signal from a base station, and relays the wireless signal to a second of the animals, wherein the transceiver of each of the animals is configured to encode the wireless signal with an identifier of the animal, and wherein, the wireless signal controls movement of the second animal by controlling energizing of electrodes that are implanted in the second animal's brain, wherein the transceiver of each of the animals is configured to encode the wireless signal with a category identifier of the animal, and wherein the category identifier of the animal is selected from the group consisting of seeker, follower and relay.