Cyber Cockroaches Wearing Tiny Backpacks as First Responders in Disasters?

A recent invention involving cockroaches might help save more lives faster after a natural calamity. An engineer recently tapped the services of the unique insects to possibly help search for victims in the aftermath of disasters.

Wired reported that Alper Bozkurt, a bioelectrical engineer at North Carolina State University, made use of “cyber cockroaches.” The project involved strapping tiny backpacks with microchips onto the resilient insects, with the aim of searching for survivors who may have been buried under collapsed structures after earthquakes, typhoons and the like.

Bozkurt stated in an episode of “Cyborg Nation” that the CyberRoach project uses remote controls that will command the insects to move to various directions. Because of their relatively small size, cockroaches can easily explore beneath rubble and crevices to locate survivors. The modified bugs can then send the coordinates of the buried people back to a waiting rescue team for a quick recovery.

The team of experts at Texas A&M University showcased the project. Professor Hong Liang and Professor S. Bradley Vinson took one cockroach measure two inches long and one inch wide and turned it upside down. The breed was said to be from Latin America and bigger in size, allowing it to carry a bigger pack. They described the technological breakthrough in a paper for the Royal Society. The roach’s movements can be controlled by installing electrodes into their antennae and sending minor shocks. As for the A&M team, they positioned the electrodes into a cluster of neurons responsible for the front legs of the insect, so that the shock would cause it to lose balance and go towards their intended direction. In the meantime, the roach follows 60 percent of the commands. Their goal was to have 100 percent control.

As for the backpacks, carbon dioxide was sprayed on the cockroach to put it to sleep. An acupuncture needle is used to insert the electrodes while whiteout and grafting tape are used to fit the chip onto the hard shell. The packs can include sensors, cameras and other devices that can gather information and pinpoint the location of victims.

CyberRoach is just one of the few projects that incorporate insects to get tasks done faster and more conveniently compared to human subjects. DARPA also began funding research with the goal to use beetles as surveillance drones.

More updates and details on the project and related activities are expected in the following weeks.