# Engineering cyborg cockroaches to save lives

**Published by:** [Durwin](https://paragraph.com/@durwin/)
**Published on:** 2022-11-22
**URL:** https://paragraph.com/@durwin/engineering-cyborg-cockroaches-to-save-lives

## Content

Scientists are turning insects into cyborgs to save lives.Cockroaches! What do you think of when you read that? Gross little flying menaces that frighten the crap out of you and simply refuse to die? Same here. Most of us would have a inane fear of these feisty creepy crawlies. But what if I told you these pests can save lives? Imagine a future where we can control tiny insects and make them go places where we can’t go. Researchers at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University (NTU) figured out a way to attach a robot to insects, essentially creating a cyborg insect.The Goliath Beetle, one of the largest beetles in the world, can carry a heavy load and be useful for search and rescue missions.“Insects can easily navigate the tiny and dangerous gaps amid rubble. But while insect-like drones, called “micro air vehicles” (MAVs), have existed for decades, they consume a lot of power during flight and can only haul tiny batteries — meaning operating time is typically limited to a few minutes.” They chose the one of the largest cockroaches in the world for the job. The Madagascar hissing cockroach. Growing up to 3 inches long, they can fly, have larger payloads and are still small enough to do the job of navigating crevices and rubble. And no, unlike their cousins, the common American cockroach, which is certifiably disgusting, the Madagascar cockroach is actually quite tame. It is very docile, not a pest, easy to handle and hardy. Making it a very popular pet amongst children. “The researchers spent years studying how to remote control the movements of the cockroach by using electrodes to stimulate different neuromuscular sites, including those that activate flight.”Insects can navigate into the crevices and cracks of rubbles and save lives amongst the disasters.So imagine slapping a battery pack and tiny computer on top of a cockroach and being able to control its movement. We can perform search and rescue missions safely, entering tiny cracks to search for survivors and if the rubble collapses, at least its not a human life in danger. Ok, I am pretty sure there is some form of ethical issue using insects for such stuff and its still a very nascent topic. Think of the possibilities. Slapping on add-on for the cyborg insects, like mini solar panels and a flashlight! Perhaps even a video recorder for surveillance.If you watched Miss Sloane (the movie), a cyborg cockroach played a pivotal role in the storyline.Who knows, perhaps we may be even able to get underwater insects to help with sea rescues that has very tight access. I predict that if we get the tech right, we will see a whole new economy of insect farms and cyborg insects helping us in our daily lives. Such a smart innovation. Turning pests/pets into saviours. Big props to the NTU team, from my own country (Singapore)! Think about the lives that will be saved. And though the science of having cyborg insects is amazing, I still won’t go near any kind of cockroaches, even a dead one. Oh wait till I tell you about cockroach milk. It is one of the most nutrient-dense superfood in the world and we are figuring out how to “milk” them from cockroaches without killing them. Fascinatingly disturbing eh? But that is another story for another day folks. - Do you like cockroaches? - #startups #business #startupx #growth #success #socialmedia #culture #entrepreneurship #strategy #rescue #innovation #robots #cyborg #cockroaches #Madagascarhissingcockroach #NTU #singapore

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