Robot bees being built to replace real bugs

[IDemo]

A little over a year after the first robot insect swarm was introduced by Harvard University’s Robert Wood, the bee problem in the United States hasn’t gotten any better. It’s not a problem of too many bees - on the contrary. Researchers are looking into ways to create artificial bees because of incredible losses of bees - and we need bees to pollinate the food we eat.

Before we get too deep into the robot bees bit, you’ll want to take a peek at this quick special on "Colony Collapse Disorder", or CCD. Bees are dying in record numbers, and we’re on the edge of bee colony collapse - not only in the United States, but across the whole world.

.. video at link

The special above comes from Earth Focus, broadcast for the first time several years ago. Since then, the problem has gotten worse. It’s gotten so bad, in fact, that the White House has released a memorandum assigning a task-force to investigate and potentially bring on a fix.

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"They would be able to perform the same task of going from flower to flower picking up and putting down pollen." Kevin Ma continued, "They wouldn't have to collect nectar like real bees. They would just be transmitting pollen."

http://www.slashgear.com/robot-bees-being-built-to-replace-real-bugs-04339699/?google_editors_picks=true

I believe even in the most highly optimistic scenario that "augment" would be a more accurate word than "replace".

[PoliticAverse]

1. I hope they left the stinger out... n/t

[IDemo]

2. Drone bees will include a stinger n/t

[MohRokTah]

3. Oddly, Drone honeybees have no stinger.

The stinger in the worker honeybees is really the ovipositor of a female.

The drone bee has no ovipositor and his genitalia are only for breeding with a single queen, then they pull out of his body and he dies.

Drone honey bees are wonderful insects to give to small children as they cannot be stung.

[IDemo]

6. I'm referring of course to drone bees built by Boeing or Lockheed n/t

[0rganism]

4. robot bees come with high-tech laser stingers coated with deadly neurotoxins

it's a standard feature. the optional "don't sting people" feature costs extra.

[Warren Stupidity]

5. C.S. Lewis called: he wishes to withdraw his vision of the future.

[thecrow]

7. Then they will appear at a Home Depot near you!

Oh, the joy.

[LuvNewcastle]

8. Because it makes too much sense to help the real bees survive.

I guess we won't need bees to pollinate the Soylent Green, anyway.