Akihabara News (Tokyo) — The RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering Research (CPR), based in Saitama Prefecture, has discovered methods that can be used to repurpose cockroaches for the betterment of society.
The process begins with taking live Madagascar cockroaches, which can grow to about 7.5 centimeters in length, fitting them with backpack-shaped electronic devices, and then using these to control the insects’ behavior.
These cyborg insects can then potentially be used for urban search and rescue missions, or the inspection of potentially dangerous locations.
The device is powered by a solar battery which should remain charged as long as the insect lives.
In order to securely fasten the solar cells to the thorax of the cockroaches, specialized adhesive techniques were developed which would not impede the movement of the insect’s abdominal muscles.
After all, it would do little good if the cockroaches dropped their high-tech backpacks and just scampered away.
The researchers are eager to test their new techniques on other insect species; as well as to dream up new applications for their arthropod-adept technology.
According to head researcher Kenjiro Fukuda, “we believe that we can further expand the functions of cyborg insects.”
