Rats with frickin' GPS attached to their backs!

[Lew]

Rattus Norvegicus used to detect land mines.

Scientists in the US have developed a novel system for detecting landmines by training rats equipped with GPS and wireless rucksacks to sniff out explosives and map them for destruction.

A team of boffins at Bucknell University has trained the Rattus recruits to identify the chemicals that seep into the ground from land mines, and to circle around them. The rats wear palm-sized backpacks which contain GPS and a wireless transmitter, as well as an electronic reward system as an incentive.

The movement of the animals is tracked on a laptop, which uses an icon-based interface specially designed for people who may have little experience with computers. It maps out potential land mines, will produce a map for the site's clearance, and identify safe routes through the area.

[Sirius]

Originally Posted by Lew

Rattus Norvegicus used to detect land mines.

Has anyone asked the rats if they want to do it

[Gary L]

Originally Posted by Sirius

Has anyone asked the rats if they want to do it

The rat spokesperson said it's a blast!

They're saving lives. that has to be good.

[watzizname]

It maps out potential land mines, will produce a map for the site's clearance, and identify safe routes through the area.

So.. it's under the gate, hide behind the garden gnome for 30 seconds, up the drainpipe, along the guttering, onto the wall, into the car park, and straight for the nearest food bin behind Kulminder's curry house

[Pauls9]

So it's not done by noting where the signal disappears as the rat is blown up?

[Lew]

The whole reason for using rats for this purpose instead of (for example) dogs is that rats are too light to trip the landmines.

[Skully]

Could use Jack Russels instead. They're half way between rats and dogs. Seems like the perfect compromise.