According to the Daily Mail, a research team at Tsukuba University has implanted control microchips into Madagascar cockroaches, enabling the navigation of these insects along walls and floors—areas that are difficult for other types of robots to access.
Dubbed “Calmbot”, these cockroaches are equipped with electrodes, antenna chips, batteries, and a pixel board that serves as a screen on their backs. The research team stated that these cyborg cockroaches (half cockroach, half machine) could transport items around the house and draw on paper, among other tasks.
Portrait of the cyborg cockroaches – half cockroach, half machine.
Among the many species of cockroaches on Earth, Madagascar cockroaches were chosen by the research team for their agility, self-repair abilities, and excellent hiding skills. Once they complete their assigned tasks, these cockroaches retreat to dark areas to ‘rest’ before being summoned when needed.
“In the future, they will suddenly appear from places we are unaware of, complete their missions, and then continue to vanish.”
The cockroaches will be fitted with electrodes, antenna chips, batteries, and a pixel board that serves as a screen on their backs.
It is reported that the research team has experimented with controlling cyborg cockroaches to move along walls or traverse carpets and floors via a cable attached to their bodies. To control multiple cyborg cockroaches simultaneously, the team developed a control method based on the behavior of worker ants in a colony.
“When uncontrollable cockroaches appeared, we used replacement cockroaches to continue the ongoing tasks.”
The researchers hope to apply cyborg insects for search and rescue operations. However, in cases where the cyborgs are needed for an extended period, lithium batteries may not provide sufficient energy, and if they run out of power, the insects could escape.
To address this issue, the researchers have integrated ultra-thin solar panels onto the cockroaches’ abdomens. Despite being only 0.004 mm thick, these panels can provide energy up to 50 times the power required for the control circuit.
Initially, the panels hindered the cockroaches’ movement, causing them to slow down and preventing them from regaining balance if flipped over.
After adjusting the position and arrangement, the researchers successfully integrated a 17.2 mW solar panel for the cyborg without affecting the cockroaches’ mobility.
Diagram of the electronic components of the cyborg cockroach. (Image: Nature).
“For search and rescue missions in residential areas, cyborg insects are equipped with computer circuits to control movement, sensors to locate people, and wireless communication devices. They require a total power consumption of 10-100 mW. Therefore, the energy-harvesting devices attached to the insects are crucial for expanding their operational range and functions,” said Kenjiro Fukuda, a co-author of the study.
According to Fukuda, some scientists aim to create cyborgs from other insects like butterflies or beetles. However, most cannot attach energy-harvesting devices because it impairs their mobility. This is why the successful integration of solar panels onto cyborg cockroaches is a significant achievement of the research.
In the future, the research team plans to develop cyborgs based on other insects, including flying species.
Compared to soft robots (robots made from flexible materials that can move and transform), cyborg insects are cheaper, faster to integrate, and consume less energy. An important feature is that cyborgs can still receive signals through biological sensory systems for movement, a capability that soft robots have yet to achieve.
