Researchers from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore have demonstrated that living insects can be remotely controlled. They equipped Madagascar hissing cockroaches with a “backpack” connected to the insects’ sensory organs through electrodes. Using wireless communication and a microcontroller, researchers were able to send electrical impulses that directed the cockroaches to move, slow down, or stop.
In a new study from November, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, the same team from Singapore introduced an “automatic assembly method for insect-computer hybrid robots.” This system can transform a cockroach into a cyborg in just 68 seconds. Previously, the manual process was time-consuming and depended heavily on the precision of the researchers, affecting the ability to control the insects remotely.
To eliminate human error and enable mass production, the researchers developed an automated assembly system. This system includes an operation table where anesthetized cockroaches are fixed in place. A robotic arm then attaches a prepared backpack to the cockroach, implanting two electrodes. The system uses artificial intelligence and computer vision to account for size variations in each cockroach, ensuring the electrodes are placed accurately.
The robotic system can prepare four cockroaches in under eight minutes, significantly faster than manual preparation, which could take up to an hour per insect. The researchers compared the movement control of automatically assembled cyborg cockroaches with those assembled manually and found them comparable, making mass production feasible.
The potential applications for these cyborg cockroaches include search and rescue operations after disasters or inspecting factories and industrial sites. Equipped with sensors, these insects could locate trapped individuals or detect leaks and structural damage. To cover large areas quickly, dozens or even hundreds of these prepared insects might be needed.
However, before these cyborg cockroaches can be used outside the lab, additional challenges must be addressed. Fabian Steinbeck from Bielefeld University, who also researches bio-robots, suggests that the use of these insects in search and rescue operations could be difficult due to signal reception issues in collapsed buildings.
As technology advances, the integration of artificial intelligence and robotics continues to push the boundaries of what is possible. The development of cyborg cockroaches represents a step towards innovative solutions in fields like disaster response and industrial inspection.