You can remotely control a cockroach wearing an electronic backpack.
Provided by: Hirotaka Sato, Nanyang Technological University
Robotic arms that can automatically turn cockroaches into controllable cyborgs could be used to create swarms of biological robots for search missions.
Hirotaka Sato of Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University and colleagues previously showed that swarms of up to 20 cockroaches in Madagascar make hissing noises (Glomphadrina Portentosa) Vehicles equipped with electronic backpacks can maneuver through desert-like terrain. However, the researchers calculate that hundreds to thousands of cyborg insects would be needed for use in real-world search and rescue missions.
