Scientists in Japan have found a way to remotely control cyborg cockroaches over a long period of time. To do this, they developed a small, wireless control module that is powered by a solar-powered battery.
The remote-controlled cyborg cockroaches – part insect, part machine – could be used in the future to inspect dangerous areas or monitor the environment. However, to make the use of cyborg insects practical, they must be able to be controlled remotely for long periods of time. This requires wireless control of their leg segments, which are powered by a small rechargeable battery.
As an international team led by researchers from the RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering Research (CPR) in Japan reports, it is fundamental that the battery is always sufficiently charged – after all, no one wants a team of cyborg cockroaches suddenly except control. While it is possible to build docking stations to recharge the battery, the need to return and recharge can disrupt time-sensitive missions.
Mini backpack designed for components
A solar cell, which ensures that the battery is constantly charged, turned out to be the best solution. According to a statement, the researchers faced the challenge that each cockroach has only a limited area available for this. They therefore had to develop a special backpack, ultra-thin organic solar cell modules and an adhesive system that would hold all components in place for a long time while still allowing natural movement.
Led by Kenjiro Fukuda, the team experimented with Madagascar hissing cockroaches, which are about two inches long. They attached the wireless leg control module and lithium polymer battery to the top of the insect’s thorax using a specially designed backpack, modeled after the body of a model cockroach. The backpack was 3D printed with an elastic polymer and matched the cockroach’s curved surface perfectly, allowing the rigid electronics to be stably attached to the rib cage for over a month.
Freedom of movement guaranteed
The organic solar cell module, just 0.004 millimeters thick, was attached to the back of the abdomen and reached an output power of 17.2 milliwatts, according to Fukuda. The way it was attached to the insect proved necessary to ensure freedom of movement. After carefully studying the cockroach’s natural movements, the researchers noticed that the abdomen changes shape and that parts of the skin armor overlap. To make this possible, they layered adhesive and non-adhesive parts in the solar plates, allowing them to bend but still stick.
Once the components were integrated into the cockroach, along with wires stimulating the leg segments, it took just half an hour to charge. The researchers were then able to wirelessly control the cyborg insects. According to research leader Fukuda, the technology could also be applied to other insects in the future: “Because the deformation of the abdomen does not only occur in cockroaches, our strategy can also be transferred to other insects such as beetles or in the future, perhaps even to flying insects. insects like crickets.”
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
