Cyborg Cockroaches to Collaborate on Rescue Missions
Cyborg cockroaches have taken a significant leap forward in their ability to work together on search-and-rescue missions, thanks to a groundbreaking system upgrade developed by researchers in Singapore and Japan. The innovative technology allows these cyborg insects to function as a team, following a leader to navigate terrain more efficiently and even assisting each other by flipping over those that are upside down.
This advancement represents a major breakthrough for the team at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), who have been at the forefront of developing methods to control insect movement using electronic devices attached to their backs. In a recent demonstration at a trade exhibition in April 2024, the Home Team Science and Technology Agency (HTX) and NTU showcased how this technology could provide crucial information to first responders, such as pinpointing the locations of survivors in the aftermath of natural disasters like earthquakes.
The system involves attaching thumb-size chipsets equipped with infrared cameras and other search-and-rescue tools to Madagascar hissing cockroaches. These devices are connected to wires that gently stimulate the insects' antennae and rear, guiding them in specific directions by simulating the sensation of encountering an obstacle. Previously, each cockroach was controlled individually, but with this upgrade, a swarm of them can now be coordinated as a group, significantly enhancing their effectiveness in rescue missions and terrain mapping.
Professor Hirotaka Sato from NTU's School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering highlighted the importance of this upgrade for large-scale operations like earthquake rescue missions, where time is of the essence. By connecting multiple cockroaches through a miniaturised radio controller unit mounted on their backs, an algorithm enables one insect to be designated as a leader, guiding the rest of the swarm towards a target using gentle pulses.
The team at NTU successfully directed the movement of 20 roaches simultaneously, demonstrating the potential for increased speed and coverage in search-and-rescue missions, infrastructure inspections, and environmental monitoring. The research, which utilised a swarm-control algorithm developed by professors from Hiroshima University and Osaka University, was published in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Nature Communications in January.
As the project progressed, researchers found that allowing the insects to navigate autonomously was more effective than constant nudging. This approach not only improved cooperation among the cyborg bugs but also reduced instances of entrapment and facilitated mutual assistance, such as flipping over overturned insects as they passed each other.
Mr Ong Ka Hing, deputy director of ground systems at HTX, emphasised the significant advancement that swarm technology brings to search-and-rescue operations, offering faster and more coordinated search capabilities. The collaboration between HTX, NTU, and Klass Engineering aims to deploy cyborg insects for covering large areas and locating survivors, with plans to implement these technologies in real operations within the next three years.
Professor Sato's pioneering work on hybrid insects, dating back to 2008, has garnered international recognition for its innovative approach. By harnessing the natural abilities of insects and integrating them with electronic systems, the research team is exploring new possibilities for enhancing search-and-rescue efforts and extending the battery life of these cyborg creatures for prolonged missions.
Cyborg cockroaches can now collaborate as a team on search-and-rescue missions with a new system upgrade.
Researchers at NTU and HTX have developed technology to control insect movement for more efficient operations.
The swarm-control algorithm allows for coordinated movement of multiple insects, increasing speed and coverage in missions.
Source: STRAITSTIMES