Lecture given at "Models, Strategies, Media" UC Irvine 2005. Audio recording: conceptlab.com/uci/2004fall/hertz-defense-models-strategies-media-2004.mp3

Abstract: Animals inspire the development of technological systems by providing clever solutions to embodied, complex environments. Biomimetic systems - technologies that mimic biology - are exploited in the context of war because they augment military force with animal-machine instinct, durability, and controllability without the risk of losing "life". The 20th Century has embraced the animal-machine within the context of war, with current American biorobotics research funded by DARPA continuing and expanding this trend. This presentation will provide a visual survey of 20th Century animal-machine systems, focusing on mechanical-computational weapons that have been developed as animal-like entities. Critical and theoretical questions will be raised toward the basis of bioinspired technological development within this context: between war and the media of animal-machine hybrids.

More projects: conceptlab.com