Scientists in Japan have designed a rechargeable remote control system that attaches to the body of a cockroach and forces it to obey basic commands. It carries two lightweight backpacks, one of which is "ultra-thin and organic" solar panels, and has a 3D printed harness on his chest with a "remote stimulation" mechanism.
The system to robotize the insect has been designed by the Riken Cluster Centre for Pioneering Research in Japan, who have released a short video to show how it works.
With one click the Madagascar cockroach goes to the right and with another, to the left. "The ultra-thin electronics and flexible materials allow the cockroach to move freely," says Takao Someya, director of the institute specializing in biomedical applications and making the use of cyborg insects a reality.
That reality would consist of using insects to enter places where people and machines can’t or don’t want to enter, such as areas affected by natural or chemical disasters.
The scientists cite, in the article, they presented to the magazine 'NPJ Flexible Electronics', the rescue of people trapped in these situations or the monitoring of the environment. Although these experiments with cockroaches are not new and have been going on for more than a decade, the key that has prevented the boom in cyborg cockroaches is for how long they can be controlled.
“For the use of cyborg insects to be practical, they must be able to be controlled remotely for long periods. This requires wireless control of their legs and keeping the battery topped up is critical, as no one wants a team of out-of-control cyborg cockroaches wandering around,” said Someya.
