Sniffer rats to help rescue teams
Published: September 23, 2004
Sniffer rats, equipped with radios, could soon be helping to locate earthquake survivors buried in the collapsed buildings.
Scientists say rats have an exquisitely sensitive sense of smell and can crawl just about anywhere, reports New Scientist.
In a project funded by the Pentagon, University of Florida scientists first identified the neural signals rats generate when they have found a scent that they are looking for.
Each rat had electrodes permanently implanted in three areas of the brain.
Trained rats were set to forage for their target smell, while the electrodes allowed researchers to identify the brainwave patterns associated with finding that smell.
In real life rescues, signals from the rat’s brain would be relayed to a radio transmitter pack strapped to the animal’s back.
Rescuers would be able to follow the rat’s position by tracking these signals.
Scientists are developing software that will recognise the ‘aha!’ moment when the rat has found its target, so rescuers will know where to start digging.
The scientists hope to create a working system within nine months and rescue teams have already welcomed the idea.
“It would be absolutely fantastic,” says Julie Ryan of International Rescue Corps in Scotland. “A rat could get into areas and spaces we couldn’t get to. And a rat would try to get out if it didn’t feel safe.”
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