Beetles With Microchip Backpacks Could Aid in Disaster Rescues
Researchers at the University of Queensland are transforming beetles into living robots to help locate survivors in disaster zones.
The biorobotics team has developed a microchip backpack that attaches to the common darkling beetle. The device connects to the insect’s nervous system through its antennae and sensors on its back, allowing scientists to send directional signals.
“If we use electrical stimulation to apply a signal to the left antenna, the insect might feel there’s something on the left-hand side and move to the right,” said Dr Thang Vo-Doan, project lead.
The beetles are not fully controlled and retain the freedom to move naturally, which helps them navigate complex environments safely.
Research assistant Lachie Fitzgerald compared the relationship to that of a horse and rider, where the beetle’s natural movement is guided rather than overridden.
The goal is to deploy swarms of these beetles into rubble following natural disasters, such as earthquakes, to locate survivors.
Insects are ideal for this task due to their ability to access tight spaces and traverse difficult terrain that robots cannot manage.
“They can climb upside-down, they can climb walls,” Fitzgerald said. “If they lost a leg, or fall a metre — they’re so resilient.”
Cockroaches are also being studied for similar purposes and offer the added advantage of carrying heavier loads, such as cameras or sensors.
“You cannot have an artificial system that is as agile as an insect,” Vo-Doan said. “An insect can move easily or in a complex way and easily adapt to the environment.”
The project is currently funded by the University of Queensland, though researchers say additional investment would help improve control over insect movement.
University of Queensland scientists are using beetles as living robots
Microchip backpacks guide beetles via nervous system stimulation
Insects could help locate survivors in disaster zones
Source: 7NEWS
