Biohybrid Robots: Insect Cyborgs for Search and Rescue Missions

In an innovative experiment, a beetle undergoes a unique procedure where it’s submerged in an ice bath to induce temporary numbness. This allows University of Queensland student Lachlan Fitzgerald to safely attach a tiny circuit board to the beetle’s back, transforming it into a biohybrid robot. The device, which resembles a backpack, delivers electrical pulses to the beetle’s antennae, giving Fitzgerald control over its movements. This creates a fusion of living organism and technology, blending the beetle’s natural agility with machine precision.

Fitzgerald envisions a future where swarms of cyborg insects assist in search and rescue operations following urban disasters like earthquakes or bombings, when human access to affected areas is dangerous. He hopes these cyborg beetles will navigate rubble-strewn disaster zones, quickly locating survivors and even delivering essential supplies. The research, which also involves embedding control systems in Australian giant burrowing cockroaches, highlights the advantages of biohybrids over traditional robots. Insects are highly adaptable, and their natural behavior makes them more efficient in unpredictable environments compared to machines that need extensive computation to respond to dynamic conditions.

While concerns about the ethical implications of using living creatures for such projects exist, Fitzgerald emphasizes the life-saving potential of this technology. Although questions remain about the consciousness of these insects, he believes the benefits far outweigh the risks, particularly in situations where every second counts. This groundbreaking research is part of a growing trend of biohybrid robots, which also includes Caltech’s efforts to control jellyfish and Cornell’s use of king oyster mushrooms for environmental sensing. Despite the controversy, the potential for cyborg insects to revolutionize disaster relief and other fields makes them a promising technology for the future.