Scientists have developed a new type of "cyborg cockroach", a modified insect capable of pulling hundreds of times its own body weight. This breakthrough may open new paths for search and rescue robots and micro-engineering applications.
The research, led by a team from the National University of Singapore (NUS), implanted tiny electronic devices into the common American cockroach (Periplaneta americana), including a mechanical gripper called a "pincer" and a wireless control system. The backpack-type device installed on the back of the cockroach weighs about 1 gram and has a built-in motor and battery. It electrically stimulates the cockroach's antennal nerves to guide its movement direction.
Experiments have shown that this semi-mechanical cockroach can pull objects weighing up to 60 grams - equivalent to more than 20 times its own body weight (about 3 grams). In simulated search and rescue scenarios, it successfully navigated narrow ruins, climbed vertical surfaces, and accurately located and dragged target items. The researchers emphasize that this bio-mechanical hybrid combines the natural adaptability of cockroaches with the precise control of the machine, which is far superior to purely mechanical robots.
"Cockroaches are naturally good at navigating complex environments, we just enhanced its strength and controllability," said project leader Dr. Shiva Kumar. This technology uses low-power Bluetooth and AI algorithms to achieve remote control and has a battery life of up to several hours.
This result has been published in the latest issue of the journal "Advanced Intelligent Systems". In the future, the team plans to optimize the equipment to achieve group control of multiple cockroaches for use in disaster area search and rescue or pipeline inspection and other fields. However, ethical issues have also arisen, including animal welfare and potential ecological impacts.